MESA, Ariz. -- A's right-hander Chris Bassitt has traded in his high-effort delivery for a simplified version borrowed from ace Sonny Gray.
"It's a complete change from last year," Bassitt said.
The process began last season, when pitching coach Curt Young was working to resolve the right-hander's occasional habit of tipping pitches. It was during this process they stumbled upon a few delivery patterns that mimicked those employed by Gray, "and we just ran with it," said Bassitt.
"We were seeing some things we wanted to clean up," Young said. "It really has to do with simplifying his delivery and making him comfortable with where his hands are starting from the windup.