After watching Jerad Eickhoff throw a couple of simulated innings Saturday, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler mentioned how impressed he was with the life and velocity that the right-hander had on his fastball.
Eickhoff opened the season on the disabled list with a strained right lat muscle. He has recovered from the injury and is now building arm strength and going through the progressions that a pitcher normally does in spring training. He is expected to be back in the Phillies' rotation at the end of May.
But what about this velocity that Kapler saw Saturday? The manager said Eickhoff's fastball was between 91 and 93 mph. Last year, Eickhoff's fastball averaged 90.5 mph, according to Pitch/FX.
Turns out that, in addition to rehabbing his injury, Eickhoff has been working on a small mechanical adjustment in his delivery. Basically, he has worked on speeding up the break of his hands, just being a little more aggressive with that action. That, he believes, could translate into a little more arm speed and an extra tick on his fastball.
"It's just a slight adjustment," the pitcher said.
But so far, it agrees with him.
"I've thrown five or six bullpens and gotten up and down (in simulated innings) and it feels great," Eickhoff said. "It seems like there's a lot of life on the ball, more late life."
MLB
As the Phillies head to Miami for a series with the Marlins on Monday, Eickhoff will head to Clearwater to ramp up his rehab. He is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday. He will do that once or twice this week before seeing some competition in extended spring training games.
General manager Matt Klentak has said Eickhoff would go back in the rotation when he's ready.
Later on this week, Eickhoff will be joined in Clearwater by another pitcher who is recovering from an injury. Reliever Pat Neshek (shoulder) has been throwing in the bullpen. He will travel with the Phillies to Miami and move his rehab to Clearwater on Friday. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to be back in the Phils' bullpen during the middle week of May when the club travels to Baltimore and St. Louis.