Relying on his heavy sinker and slider, Kuhl, 24, made his Major League debut last year and pitched well enough to become the favorite for one of the two remaining spots in the Pirates' rotation. But he wanted to add another wrinkle, something that would keep opposing hitters from sitting on his other two pitches.
So with the blessing of pitching coach Ray Searage and senior pitching coordinator Scott Mitchell, Kuhl experimented with his grip. He moved his fingers behind the seams and removed some pressure, trusting the ball to move instead of forcing it.
"It's another thing to go to.