Summary:
Joe Barlow was the first pitch design session I ever ran solo. We added a slider during the COVID shutdown, and it didn’t just help him make the big leagues—it made him an entirely different pitcher. That pitch became his identity.
Before Training:
Barlow’s fastball had plateaued, and he was throwing his curveball nearly 50% of the time in Triple-A—a pitch that didn’t pair well with his command or profile. He didn’t have a go-to weapon and was on the fringe of the org.
What We Worked On:
Slider Addition: Built a hard breaking ball that became his primary offering in the big leagues
Usage Shift: Went from barely existing to 60% usage in MLB—replacing the curve and redefining his sequencing
Pitch Identity: The slider became the pitch—how he got outs, built confidence, and closed games
Key Metrics:
Slider Usage (MLB debut season): 60%
Strikeout Rate (Rookie Year): 27.8%
Saves: 11 in his first MLB season
Pitch Performance: Outperformed model expectations across a full season—proving there’s “dark matter” value to how it plays: deceptive release, seam axis, timing disruption, or a blend of all three
Reflection:
Barlow didn’t tweak his arsenal. He became a different pitcher. The slider he built in that session gave him an MLB-ready identity—something that survived usage, sequencing, and full-season exposure. That pitch didn’t just hold up—it changed his trajectory.
Videos / Content:
Dallas News Story on Barlow