Shoemaker has thrown split-fingers just a tick over 21 percent of the time in his two full seasons in the Major Leagues. Two years ago, opposing hitters slugged .227 against it. Last year, they slugged .435. The split-finger went from being responsible for more than half of Shoemaker's 124 strikeouts in 2014 to more than a third of the 24 home runs he allowed in 2015.
"It was frustrating, but that was my error, because it was up most of the time," Shoemaker said Wednesday, after giving up a run on two hits and a walk in two innings of his spring debut at Scottsdale Stadium.