Summary:
Colin Rea went from bouncing between Triple-A and spot starts to throwing a career-best season in his mid-30s—and securing a $5 million guaranteed deal. His resurgence wasn’t about adding flash. It was about creating one swing-and-miss pitch that could keep him in the league.

Before Training:
Rea entered the 2022–2023 offseason with no clear role. His command was strong, but he lacked a single pitch that could consistently miss bats. He had already surpassed expectations by getting back to the big leagues—but he needed something more to stick.

What We Worked On:

• Sweeper Development: Added a horizontal breaking ball that gave him a true swing-and-miss option
  
  
  

• Execution at Scale: Built a system around his workload, body, and simplicity—nothing overly complex
  
  
  

• Identity Shift: Transitioned from a contact-oriented profile to one with a clear strikeout pitch
  
  
  

Key Metrics:

• Fastball Velocity: Held steady at 93–94 mph
  
  
  

• Whiff Rate on Sweeper: Among the best in MLB by run value per pitch (min. 300 thrown)
  
  
  

• Innings Pitched (2023): 124.2 (3rd on Brewers)
  
  
  

• 2024 Contract: $5 million guaranteed—his first major financial breakthrough
  
  
  

Reflection:
Rea didn’t need to reinvent himself—he just needed one pitch to keep hitters honest. The sweeper gave him that edge. He took it seriously, executed all year, and turned a fringe opportunity into meaningful career security.

Videos / Content:

• Initial Slider Design

• 2023 Season Recap