Griffin Canning’s pitching demeanor should come with a disclaimer: Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely intended.
The UCLA junior right-hander doesn’t wear jersey No. 55 for symmetry’s sake. It’s a tribute to Orel Hershiser, the former Dodgers hero whom Canning tries to emulate with his get-it-done mentality on the mound.
“I’ve watched videos of him and I’ve heard stories about him, the competitiveness — and his nickname was ‘The Bulldog,’ ” Canning said, “so I definitely modeled myself after his competitiveness.”
Of course, it’s easier to be a bloodthirsty Bruin when you possess a four-pitch repertoire like Canning’s, which includes a curveball, changeup and slider that complement a fastball that typically ranges from 92 to 94 mph.