SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Every spring, pitchers across baseball experiment with new grips, different mechanics and various cues that may lead to slight improvements or huge breakthroughs.
With a 13-person coaching staff, the Giants have no shortage of voices in the ears of their players. One who’s already commanding their attention is Brian Bannister, the Giants’ pitching director who came to the organization after spending five seasons with the Red Sox.
Bannister spent the offseason examining arm slots, evaluating pitch shapes and studying the Giants’ personnel so he could jump right in this spring. The former big leaguer suggested new pitches for prospect Logan Webb, quickly earned the trust of free-agent signee Kevin Gausman and is now assisting reliever Trevor Gott with implementing a “sweeping slider.