Ryan Pressly’s Comeback: How a Cubs Pitcher Reforged His Game With a Teammate’s Help
Veteran pitcher Ryan Pressly turned to teammate Ian Happ to analyze his pitching struggles. This collaboration led to significant adjustments and a resurgence on the mound.
After a disastrous outing on May 6 against the San Francisco Giants, Cubs reliever Ryan Pressly faced a crossroads. The right-hander, known for his ability to quickly move past tough performances, admitted this particular game was especially challenging.
The Career-Worst Outing and the Aftermath
"Oh no, that one sucked," Pressly said of his performance, acknowledging it was his career worst. He was charged with nine runs without recording an out in the 11th inning of the loss. However, Pressly, a veteran of the majors for over a decade, understood the need to regroup. "The best thing you can do is just be ready to go whenever they call you to go out there and get more outs."
Since the May 6 game, Pressly has shown remarkable improvement. Over the next 16 games, he’s recorded 14 strikeouts with only three walks, yielding a single unearned run in 15 innings.
Seeking Insight: The Collaboration with Ian Happ
To understand what went wrong and how to improve, Pressly sought advice from teammate Ian Happ. The goal was to understand how an opposing hitter would prepare to face him.
"He wanted kind of like, ‘What would you be looking for against me? How would you game plan for me?’" Happ said. Cubs manager Craig Counsell added, "It’s really just, let’s try to uncover everything we can do to help a teammate."
This collaborative approach involved analyzing Pressly’s tendencies and identifying potential weaknesses. Pressly appreciated Happ’s willingness to provide detailed feedback. "I added a little bit extra to see if he could help me, and he did," Pressly said, highlighting the significant impact of the feedback.
Adjusting the Approach: Pitch Selection and Strategy
One of the critical adjustments suggested was a change in pitch usage. Pressly has since altered his pitch mix, which has led to a turnaround in his performance.
Pressly’s adjustments included decreasing his slider usage. He saw a shift from 28.3% in the first month of the season to 12.2% in June (entering the article’s publication date). Concurrently, he increased his four-seamer rate from 32.5% to 46.9% during the same period, while also incorporating more sinkers and fewer curveballs.
"We were seeing kind of a pattern that I was falling into," Pressly explained. "With the pitch repertoire that I have, we shouldn’t be doing that necessarily. We’ve got to mix it in a little bit more and keep guys off-balance."
Positive Results: Velocity and Performance
Pressly’s efforts to refocus his game, coupled with Happ’s insight, have yielded noticeable improvements. He has seen his velocity increase, even recording his two hardest fastballs of the season on June 9 in Philadelphia, alongside rising swing-and-miss and strikeout rates.
Happ acknowledged the importance of reflection and continuous improvement. "It’s really easy to be stubborn and to kind of rely on what you’ve done in the past," he said. "It’s a lot harder to reflect and try to figure out ways to improve continuously." This collaborative effort and Pressly’s willingness to adapt have been instrumental in his return to form.
