DK starts for the Braves Friday. Here's what to expect from his vast arsenal of pitches based on 2018 data.
SI (41.2%): 89.5 mph (Grade 39), 6.4" X-Mov (Grade 33), -2.5" Z-Mov (Grade 80+)
A slow SI with elite sink, mostly due to very low spin rate of 2040 RPM. This is his bread and butter pitch for good reason, and is a big part of his career GB rate of 58.5%.
FA (11.7%): 90.2 mph (Grade 39), -0.3" X-Mov (Grade 22), 7.7" Z-Mov (Grade 38)
This FA is a poor pitch, and he knows it as evidenced by using the least of all 5 pitches in his arsenal. It's probably only used to spot up get-over strikes, or against pitchers.
FC (16.2%): 86.9 mph (Grade 45), -1.7" X-Mov (Grade 53), 3.6" Z-Mov (Grade 64)
His FC is an above average pitch that probably pairs/tunnels well with his SI, especially if he can locate it well (spoiler: he probably can).
SL (18.1%): 79.0 mph (Grade 26), -5.6" X-Mov (Grade 66), -2.5" Z-Mov (Grade 69)
The SL is a super slow sweeper. This is a Grade ~65 pitch that fits well in DK's velocity band below hitting speed, and should be a weapon against LHH.
CH (12.8%): 10.2 mph delta (Grade 62), 8.2" X-Mov (Grade 54), 3.8" Z-Mov (Grade 54)
DK's CH is another plus pitch in his arsenal, and should be effective vs RHH.
Command: ~2.5 BB/9 in 2018 and for his career. That's grade 60 command thatr allows his arsenal to play up a bit.
Overall:
Expect to see the premier junk baller in the league debut for the Braves on Friday. Lots of contact, and hopefully lots of grounders, so the defense will have to be on point. Contact pitchers are at the mercy of the BABIP gods more so than pitchers with more over powering stuff, so when/if a few hits find grass expect to see the comments around here turn sour. If a lot of those ball in play happen to find gloves expect to see comments around here proclaiming DK "the TOR we've needed all along".
Overall, DK is a durable ~.300 xwOBA SP, which is a solid #3 that can produce like a #2/3 if he accumulates a lot of IP. He's not a savior. He's not a TOR guy. He's going to come in and eat innings with above average effectiveness.
SI (41.2%): 89.5 mph (Grade 39), 6.4" X-Mov (Grade 33), -2.5" Z-Mov (Grade 80+)
A slow SI with elite sink, mostly due to very low spin rate of 2040 RPM. This is his bread and butter pitch for good reason, and is a big part of his career GB rate of 58.5%.
FA (11.7%): 90.2 mph (Grade 39), -0.3" X-Mov (Grade 22), 7.7" Z-Mov (Grade 38)
This FA is a poor pitch, and he knows it as evidenced by using the least of all 5 pitches in his arsenal. It's probably only used to spot up get-over strikes, or against pitchers.
FC (16.2%): 86.9 mph (Grade 45), -1.7" X-Mov (Grade 53), 3.6" Z-Mov (Grade 64)
His FC is an above average pitch that probably pairs/tunnels well with his SI, especially if he can locate it well (spoiler: he probably can).
SL (18.1%): 79.0 mph (Grade 26), -5.6" X-Mov (Grade 66), -2.5" Z-Mov (Grade 69)
The SL is a super slow sweeper. This is a Grade ~65 pitch that fits well in DK's velocity band below hitting speed, and should be a weapon against LHH.
CH (12.8%): 10.2 mph delta (Grade 62), 8.2" X-Mov (Grade 54), 3.8" Z-Mov (Grade 54)
DK's CH is another plus pitch in his arsenal, and should be effective vs RHH.
Command: ~2.5 BB/9 in 2018 and for his career. That's grade 60 command thatr allows his arsenal to play up a bit.
Overall:
Expect to see the premier junk baller in the league debut for the Braves on Friday. Lots of contact, and hopefully lots of grounders, so the defense will have to be on point. Contact pitchers are at the mercy of the BABIP gods more so than pitchers with more over powering stuff, so when/if a few hits find grass expect to see the comments around here turn sour. If a lot of those ball in play happen to find gloves expect to see comments around here proclaiming DK "the TOR we've needed all along".
Overall, DK is a durable ~.300 xwOBA SP, which is a solid #3 that can produce like a #2/3 if he accumulates a lot of IP. He's not a savior. He's not a TOR guy. He's going to come in and eat innings with above average effectiveness.
