February 16, 20233 yr Link Phil Miller and other assembled writers spoke with Twins late-inning reliever Jhoan Duran about a number of topics including: A sore hamstring that caused him to opt out of pitching for the Dominican Republic in the WBC, He is already throwing really hard in camp, maybe even triple digits. He hit 103.8 mph with a pitch in 2022 and sees that as a target in 2023. That said, on a 2-0 pitch to Trevor Larnach in live BP the other day, Larnach hit a ball a very long way, He did the interview in English, which is pretty impressive. He worked very hard at that in the offseason. Not in the article, but Twins Spanish translator Elvis Martinez took a job with the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this week with a promotion. Terrific guy. Very smart. Will do well. A few topics for discussion here... But the one that I can't help think about... Discussion: I don't think I want to see Duran throwing 102 this early in camp. But, that's his game. Injury will simply always be a concern with him. But he's special and he has the gas, the splinker, and terrific control.
February 16, 20233 yr 29 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said: Discussion: I don't think I want to see Duran throwing 102 this early in camp. Same reaction to that headline, here. Nice and easy, if you please.
February 16, 20233 yr 9 hours ago, Seth Stohs said: Discussion: I don't think I want to see Duran throwing 102 this early in camp. But, that's his game. Injury will simply always be a concern with him. But he's special and he has the gas, the splinker, and terrific control. Yeah, that was the first thing I thought of … he has to get through ST then 162 games. I want him available. Also, if he’s throwing that hard, I’d say it’s solidified that he isn’t going to go back to being a starter, which isn’t something I wanted anyway
February 16, 20233 yr If he wants to try to hit 103mph with his left arm, have at it. Otherwise, nope.
February 16, 20233 yr 2 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said: If he wants to try to hit 103mph with his left arm, have at it. Otherwise, nope. I think you're onto something. Didn't Ben-Hur ask to switch sides of the boat so he didn't develop asymmetrically? Perhaps pitchers would get injured less frequently as well. But i am not too concerned. Not enough here to indicate what his offseason regiment has been, not how often he threw 102 today. One max effort throw to see where you're at after working on form in reps, so you don't get set in the slower speed is much more reasonable than 2 hours of hurling 102 non-stop. And an at bat is kinda the next logical unit to put in context.
February 16, 20233 yr 8 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said: I think you're onto something. Didn't Ben-Hur ask to switch sides of the boat so he didn't develop asymmetrically? Perhaps pitchers would get injured less frequently as well. But i am not too concerned. Not enough here to indicate what his offseason regiment has been, not how often he threw 102 today. One max effort throw to see where you're at after working on form in reps, so you don't get set in the slower speed is much more reasonable than 2 hours of hurling 102 non-stop. And an at bat is kinda the next logical unit to put in context. He was also planning on playing in the WBC, as mentioned above, which means he didn't just show up yesterday and started chucking max effort fastballs. He's weeks ahead of a normal schedule as he was building up for the WBC. I'm not overly concerned. As long as, as you said, he's not out there throwing 102 non-stop.
February 16, 20233 yr Maybe 102 is nice and easy? And we'll see him throwing 106? Eek, yeah, stay healthy Duran.
February 16, 20233 yr 5 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said: If he wants to try to hit 103mph with his left arm, have at it. Otherwise, nope.
February 16, 20233 yr 31 minutes ago, ashbury said: I peg Duran as more of a Fezzig type. "I don't have to miss... No tricks, no weapons, just skill against skill. Sportsmanlike." (It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.)
February 16, 20233 yr I thought Duran was throwing hard that day and wondered about it. When Larnach hit the bomb, he walked back to the dugout and said that’s enough.
February 17, 20233 yr Yeah, not excited about him throwing that hard already even if he did work up to it for the WBC. Long way to go this season. Need to leave some gas in the tank.
February 17, 20233 yr That said, on a 2-0 pitch to Trevor Larnach in live BP the other day, Larnach hit a ball a very long way, This might say more about where Larnach is at than anything else. Duran was lights-out last year.
February 17, 20233 yr I would rather have him pitch the way he does in games in practice. Do not try to do more in either. For those who want him to take it easy and not throw like we would expect in games, you will just increase the chance he will get injured in games. I mean think about it, if in PB he is topping out at say 98, because he is taking it easy, when he does try to ramp it up in games, he arm will then be doing something it has not for awhile and make it more likely to get injured. Most injures happen when you push your muscles too far to quick. If his arm is ramped up to throw 102, so be it. I am no doctor, and I could be wrong, but pretty sure the Twins have medical staffs and would have that convo with him if they felt it would increase his injury to throw like that right now.
February 17, 20233 yr Don't worry, Rocco won't let him go past five... ...pitches. (I actually generally have little problem with Rocco's pitcher usage. It just seemed like a comment that was setting on a tee for me.)
February 17, 20233 yr I'm concerned that Twins hitters are ramping up their exit velo too quickly!! 🤣
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