SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Working on new pitches, or improving old ones, is a time-honored Spring Training tradition for pitchers. The Dodgers in general, and Hyun-Jin Ryu in particular, are putting a spin on it.
Although his two-seam fastball remains the top priority, Ryu this spring is trying to tighten the spin of his deep-count curveball and provide a different look to hitters than the one he's been using since turning pro in Korea in 2006. He spun several in his Cactus League debut on Sunday in the Dodgers' 13-7 win over the Rockies.
At Camelback Ranch in Glendale, the Dodgers often set up a device behind the catcher that tracks spin rates, angles and velocity for real-time monitoring by coaches and players, viewed on a tablet stationed on a tripod behind the mound.