SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–New Giants’ pitching coach Curt Young isn’t asking Jeff Samardzija to change what he’s throwing when he’s on the mound.
But when Samardzija is playing catch or throwing in the bullpen, Young wants Samardzija tossing his splitter.
The right-hander is entering his 11th season at the Major League level and is the only pitcher locked into a 25-man roster spot who brought experience working under Young to camp this spring. The duo spent half a season together in Oakland when Samardzija was traded from the Cubs in 2014 and Young was the A’s pitching coach.
“I think when you have a guy and a coach like Curt that you had a few years ago and time goes on, you make some adjustments here and there and sometimes you’re a little bit of a different pitcher,” Samardzija said.