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OAKLAND – At the start of the season, Chris Bassitt had never been known as a recess pitcher. The 30-year-old right-hander scored 64 homesticks at the height of his career in 2015 in 86 innings, for a pedestrian rate of 6.7 withdrawals on catches in nine innings.
Bassitt had his best play-off percentage last season when he dropped 41 batters in 47 2/3 innings, still translating to 7.7 through 9 outs. This year he has taken it to another level.
Bassitt scored nine Cincinnati Reds on Thursday in 7 innings and 2/3, losing by a loss to Oakland's 3-0 loss to the Coliseum. In four starts this season, Bassitt has already scored 31 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings, a rate of 11.3 over nine innings. This is the 15th best mark of the majors among the pitchers with at least 20 innings.
So, how is it that Bassitt has gone from under seven points to bat in nine innings to more than 11?
He actually credits his surgery Tommy John in 2016 for teaching him how to cast without any dominant tricks.
"Your thing is not very good coming back from Tommy John and you have to learn how to throw," Bassitt explained. "When you throw 89, 91, 92 (miles per hour), you have to learn how to throw without a very good fastball.Lucky for me, my fastball came back and I was able to take what I'm doing. I learned from Tommy John and from this whole process, when I start running 95, 96, it makes life a lot easier. "
Now, after three years of absence from surgery, Bassitt is finally feeling healthy again. As he noted, his fast ball speed is back in the mid-90s and he compliments this pitch with a turntable, a cutter, a curveball and a change of direction.
"A lot of movement," said A manager Bob Melvin. "His ball can be as slow as 66 or 67, then a fast ball at 95. Good motion on his toad, he also has a cutter."
This is not just the exit rate that has improved this season. Bassitt did everything right. Despite Thursday's loss, he is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and a WHIP of 0.97.
"He used his time wisely when he was on the casualty list," Melvin said. "How can I get better?" He is sometimes quicker in the game. He does everything a little better and he shows confidence. So yes, he always has it. "
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Bassitt says he's not specifically trying to hit the hitters, often preferring a weak touch at the start of the count. But he is also confident in his ability to control the batters when he needs them.
"Do I think it'll probably continue like this? Probably not, but at the same time, I think I can hit a lot of guys all the time."
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