Rays Prospect Evan Reifert Has a Wipeout Slider

Evan Reifert has one of the best sliders in the minors. In the words of our lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen, “the pitch is incredible, a low-80s knee-buckler that he throws about as much as his fastball.” Moreover, the numbers are as good as the observations. As Eric noted when profiling the 23-year-old right-hander for our 2023 Tampa Bay Rays Top Prospects list, Reifert’s slider “generated the top whiff rate of any pitch in the 2022 minors at a whopping 70%.”

Overall, the numbers were that of a work-in-progress. Pitching between three levels — the majority of his 31 relief outings came with High-A Bowling Green — Reifert logged a 4.58 ERA and issued 20 free passes over 37.1 innings. He was also overpowering; thanks largely to his signature pitch, the Wilton, Iowa native fanned 62 batters.

Assigned to the Arizona Fall League’s Mesa Solar Sox to build on what had been an injury-interrupted campaign, the erstwhile Milwaukee Brewers prospect — Tampa Bay acquired him in exchange for Mike Brosseau in November 2021 — proceeded to put up eye-popping numbers. In eight AFL appearances comprising 11.1 innings, Reifert registered 25 punchouts and allowed just one hit.

Reifert, who is currently on the injured list at Double-A Montgomery, discussed his wipeout slider during spring training.

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David Laurila: You have a plus-plus slider. What is the story behind it?

Evan Reifort: “I was pretty young. I was growing up playing travel ball, and I have a great uncle who was a really good pitcher back home in Iowa. His name is Ron Reifert.”

Laurila: Did your great uncle play pro ball?

Reifert: “He did not. Unfortunately, polio kind of got to him — I believe it was polio — so he was unable to go on to play pro ball, but he pitched at the University of Iowa and was really good. That’s kind of where I started learning how to throw a slider, from him. I was probably 10 or 12, and from there it’s morphed into the pitch it is today. I found a grip that I liked and have even modified it since then. It’s definitely gotten harder and sharper over the years. But yeah, all I really do is rip it and let it do its thing.”

Laurila: Can you elaborate on modifying the grip?

Reifert: “I used to have the seam between my index and my middle finger, but now I’m throwing it straight off my index finger. That gives it more of a bullet-slider spin. I can really rip the seam, and because I throw a lot of pitches off my index finger, that helps with the feel.

“I’ve also moved around the thumb on the baseball. Right now, I kind of have it higher up. It’s not on any seam, it’s just kind of higher up on the leather, and it’s comfortable there. I feel like I have a lot of control with it. Wherever the thumb is kind of stabilizes that pitch, allowing the index finger to stay through the ball a lot longer.”

Laurila: When did you make the change to just your index finger on a seam?

Reifert: “I believe it was two years ago now. It was when I was with the Brewers that I had my older grip. It got a little bit too loopy. I wasn’t really feeling that good rip, and shifting the seam to my index finger did the trick. It was more of a self-discovery thing at that point. I was tinkering. But I also did have a pitching coach with the Brewers who helped me. His name is Mike O’Neal. We worked with some drills to help me with the feel of the slider.”

Laurila: What type of drills?

Reifert: “We used oversized and undersized baseballs. They were Command Balls, from Driveline. There is a plus-5% and a minus-5%, and I found that the plus-5% really helps me feel that good slider where it’s ripping off the index finger. I know that if it’s popping out early, I’ve got to move my thumb up a little bit on the leather.”

Laurila: Are you still using a Command Ball?

Reifert: “I am, yes, I use it almost every day, besides the day after I pitch, where I take it a little bit lighter. But most days, I do throw. I’ve got some form of a rocker drill that I do with them.”

Laurila: Can you explain a rocker drill?

Reifert: “You’re kind of in a wider stance with your feet, just kind of stationary, and are doing a rock. You’re rocking to your left side, to your right side, kind of in a linear motion toward your target, then you’re throwing. It helps with rhythm and timing, and it also keeps my direction going toward the target. I feel like with off-speed, especially with off-speed, it’s easier for you peel off to one side; you can get different bad tendencies. The rocker drill keeps you linear, going very directional toward your target. That’s crucial with my slider.”

Laurila: How would you describe the movement profile on your slider? You said it’s similar to a bullet slider.

Reifert: “It’s like a hybrid bullet spin. It’s not a true bullet where it would be like zero-zero on the plot. It almost plots a little bit like… a curveball, I guess you could say. It’s maybe negative-four or five. If you’re looking at the T plot, it would plot in the bottom left quadrant. There’s a lot more depth to it than there is horizontal.”

Laurila: What type of feedback do you get from hitters?

Reifert: “I mean, most hitters don’t like it. They say it’s hard to see. When I threw a few days ago, the bullpen catcher told me that it looks like a white ball coming in, and then it drops right off the table. A lot of hitters see the same thing: they think it’s a fastball the whole time until it isn’t. I guess it’s hard to read.”