Spring Training is always a laboratory for pitchers experimenting with new offerings. From subtle grip tweaks to entirely new deliveries, it seems like every pitcher is trying to find an edge.
But the regular season is another story. Many of those springtime experiments vanish as quickly as they appeared—see Garrett Crochet and his new splitter, which he immediately shelved after his first 2026 start. Still, some pitches survive the transition and emerge as true weapons.
For the first week of the 2026 regular season, several pitchers have already unveiled pitches worth tracking—either completely new pitches or significant tweaks that effectively make old pitches new again. Here’s a look at 10 offerings that could define the season.
1) Logan Gilbert, Mariners — Changeup
Gilbert was already dominant with just his splitter. Now, the Mariners ace has added a changeup, giving hitters two wipeout offspeed pitches instead of one. His splitter has an even sharper drop than last year, while the new changeup averages just under 85 mph with 16 inches of horizontal movement, fading away from hitters in a way that complements his existing arsenal perfectly.
2) Dylan Cease, Blue Jays — Changeup
Cease has struggled for years to find a reliable changeup, previously relying on a slow, gimmicky version. This year, he appears to have cracked the code. His new changeup sits in the mid-80s, faster than the previous high-70s version, and he has integrated it regularly into his early starts. Cease was already a strikeout machine with just a fastball and slider; this expanded arsenal could make him even more formidable.
3) Cam Schlittler, Yankees — Cutter
Schlittler’s cutter was solid as a rookie, but a grip adjustment has transformed the pitch. Now averaging over 94 mph (up from 92 mph in 2025), the pitch carries through the zone with impressive late movement reminiscent of elite relievers like Kenley Jansen or Corbin Burnes. Hitters are seeing a harder, sharper version of a pitch they thought they already knew.
4) Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies — Slider
Sánchez has tweaked his slider by spiking his left index finger, dramatically changing its movement. The Phillies’ ace now generates four more inches of drop without losing velocity, throwing it in the 85–86 mph range. Last season, his slider already had above-average break; this year, the movement is exceptional, making it even tougher for hitters to square up.
5) Jack Leiter, Rangers — Cutter
Leiter added a sinker and a “kick change” changeup last season, and in 2026 he’s unveiling a cutter. Clocked just under 94 mph, this pitch adds another weapon to a high-velocity repertoire that already includes a 97 mph fastball, 91 mph changeup, and 87 mph slider. For a 25-year-old flamethrower, this completes a fearsome power-pitch arsenal.
6) Jhoan Duran, Phillies — Split-change
Duran, the pioneer of the “splinker” (sinker/splitter hybrid), has added a split-change to his mix—a splitter/changeup hybrid. His original splinker averages 97 mph with 25 inches of drop and 17 inches of arm-side run. The new split-change comes in at 89 mph with 34 inches of drop and 13 inches of run, giving hitters another offspeed look to keep them off his triple-digit fastball.
7) Joe Boyle, Rays — Sweeper
Boyle had a sweeper earlier in his career but scrapped it after altering his arm angle. The sidearm delivery he now uses suits a horizontal-breaking pitch, and the 6-foot-8 righty has revived the sweeper in 2026. Sitting just over 85 mph with 15 inches of glove-side break, it’s a sharp addition to a developing pitch mix.
8) Paul Skenes, Pirates — Curveball
Skenes has a wealth of nasty pitches, but his curveball was previously underwhelming. Early in 2026, he slowed it down to under 82 mph, increasing vertical drop by seven inches and horizontal break by three inches. While still not the curviest curve in baseball, it’s significantly improved, offering a fresh weapon for the reigning Cy Young winner.
9) Roki Sasaki, Dodgers — Slider
Sasaki can’t rely on just a fastball and splitter if he wants to succeed as a starter. In his 2026 debut, he leaned on a new hard slider averaging 88 mph with above-average drop. The 24-year-old still has work to do on mechanics and command, but this new pitch is a promising sign of growth in his arsenal.
10) Jacob deGrom, Rangers — Sinker
When a pitcher of deGrom’s caliber adds a pitch, it demands attention. After seven years away, deGrom brought back the sinker, last thrown in 2019. In his 2026 season debut, the pitch came in at 96–97 mph with nearly 15 inches of arm-side run. Though Pete Alonso immediately turned it into a home run, the sinker’s potential impact is undeniable, offering another layer to one of baseball’s most lethal arsenals.
These 10 pitches or variations of pitches aren’t just spring experiments; they have the potential to alter games, seasons, and even careers. Watch closely: hitters across MLB are in for a wild ride in 2026.
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