MESA, Ariz. - In the world of sports, hitting your 30s often means battling the perception that your best days are behind you. But athletes today are rewriting that narrative, thanks in large part to technological advancements and a wealth of data. This evolution is especially evident in baseball, where pitchers are redefining their craft with innovative pitch designs.
Take Jameson Taillon, for example. At 34, he's not just holding steady; he's actively enhancing his game. Over the past three seasons, Taillon has added two new pitches to his repertoire, showcasing a relentless drive to improve.
“Everyone’s replaceable in this game,” Taillon remarked after allowing three runs in two innings during the Cubs’ spring training opener. “Your track record now doesn’t matter as much as it did back in the day.
So it’s kind of, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ I understand that.
You’re only as valuable as your next start. I’m always looking for an edge and to keep up.”
This spring, Taillon isn’t focused on adding new pitches, but he’s keen on refining what he has. After two seasons with his fastball hovering around 92 mph, he’s aiming to regain some velocity.
On Friday, his fastball was clocked at 91.1 mph, slightly below last season’s average. While it’s early in the spring, Taillon hopes to see an uptick as the season progresses.
“It would obviously make life easier, (to) get away with more stuff,” Taillon said. “This early, I’m not worried about it.
I think when the lights come on and we’re at Wrigley, it’d definitely be nice to have a little bit of velo back. Even if it’s 0.5 mph, it would make everything sharper.”
The work doesn’t stop when Taillon leaves the mound. He collaborates closely with pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and others to analyze video and develop targeted training plans, incorporating drills with medicine and weighted balls to fine-tune his technique.
Last spring, Taillon experimented with a kick change, a pitch gaining popularity across the league. After years of struggling with a changeup, this new approach felt promising and quickly became a reliable weapon in his arsenal. He used it 11.2% of the time last season, a career high, and saw its usage spike to 15.4% in September.
“I definitely feel like my command of it is a lot better now,” Taillon said. “I understand some of the cues.
There were times it was good for a couple starts, really bad for a couple starts. I think the adjustments will be quicker, from good to bad will be pitch to pitch rather than outing to outing.”
The kick change didn’t just add variety; it became a potent tool. Taillon achieved a 36.6% whiff rate with the pitch last season, his second highest for any pitch over a season. Combined with a 30.3% whiff rate on his sweeper, developed in 2023, it marked the first time he had two pitches with a swing-and-miss rate over 30% in a single season.
The sweeper has emerged as his second-most-used pitch, underscoring Taillon’s commitment to growth. Since signing with the Cubs at 31, he’s embraced every opportunity to evolve, leveraging the expertise of top-tier pitching and strength coaches.
“You’re crazy and stupid if you don’t use the resources,” Taillon said. “You’re insane if you’re not asking good questions.
Our pitching coaches are the best in the game. Our strength coaches are the best.
I’m just trying to gain an edge everywhere I can and kick the aging curve the best I can.”
Taillon’s journey is a testament to the power of adaptation and the relentless pursuit of excellence, proving that age is just a number when you’re committed to staying ahead of the game.