FG on Fox: Jesse Hahn is More than Two Pitches
In order to get through the lineup multiple times, a starting pitcher generally needs to have more than two pitches. The list of starters with only one non-fastball is short, at least. So far, new Padres pitching phenom Jesse Hahn belongs on that list, as he’s thrown his fastball or curve almost 94% of the time this year. But there’s also a good chance that Hahn can be more than just the sum of those two pitches, as good as they might be.
For one, the curve ball is a pretty good place to start. Particularly Hahn’s sort of curve ball. “I really try to get on top of it and pull it down, I think it drops a good bit,” Hahn told me before an early July game against the Reds. “I think it has a lot of depth.” Even if he’s modest, he’s right — only seven qualified curve balls in the game drop more than Hahn’s at 8.8 inches. That makes it a ’roundhouse curve,’ which has a reverse platoon split. In other words, he has a weapon against lefties in that breaking pitch.
Hahn pulls those seams down and gets top-ten drop on his curve.
With a phone full of pictures of pitchers' fingers, strange beers, and his two toddler sons, Eno Sarris can be found at the ballpark or a brewery most days. Read him here, writing about the A's or Giants at The Athletic, or about beer at October. Follow him on Twitter @enosarris if you can handle the sandwiches and inanity.
Who you want the rest of the way – Hahn or Gausman?
This year? Hahn. Probably. Career? Gausman. Not many guys can throw 100 MPH with decent control/command like Gausman can. I guess what I’m saying is Hahn is a better pitcher for now, but when Gausman completely figures it out, and he will, he’ll be a top of the rotation stud.
How many more innings does Hahn have in him this year?
He told me they told him 120 at the beginning of the season but he hasn’t heard anything about it since.
Great article. His curve definitely looks like a dandy. And he throws it for strikes.