The starter-turned-reliever could play a major role for the Mariners in the playoffs
SEATTLE — In the Seattle Mariners' second series of the season March 31-April 2 against the Detroit Tigers, right-handed starting pitcher Emerson Hancock was the first hurler to get the nod in the three-game set.
Hancock didn't record a strikeout, walked a batter and allowed six earned runs on seven hits (one home run) in 0.2 innings pitched in what became a 9-6 win for Detroit. It was Hancock's first appearance of the season.
The two teams are set to face again in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Divisional Series at 5:38 p.m. PT on Saturday at T-Mobile Park, and lot has changed in the half-year since that game took place.
The Tigers gave up a historic division lead in the American League Central to the Cleveland Guardians, which Detroit beat in three games in the wild card-round.
The Mariners clinched their first American League West title since 2001 and earned a bye to the ALDS.
Hancock also went through his own shift as a player.
The 2020 first-round pick was optioned a day after his poor start against the Tigers. Amid injuries to the starting rotation, Hancock was recalled from Triple-A on April 17, optioned back down July 2 and recalled again Aug. 27.
Before his last recall, Hancock had a 5.47 ERA with with 53 strikeouts in 77.1 innings pitched across 15 starts.
Hancock was moved to the bullpen his last stint in Triple-A, which proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Hancock had seven outings (one start) in the majors after his move to reliever. He had a 1.42 ERA and fanned 11 batters in 12.2 innings pitched. His last appearance was a start on a bullpen day against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 25. It was arguably his best showing of the season.
Hancock struck out a season-high seven batters and allowed two hits in four innings of work.
"I think it's just part of it. You have to be flexible," Hancock said in an interview Friday. "You have to be adaptable. For me, it's helped me grow as a player — as a person — to be in different roles. The thing that matters is whatever position helps us win and be successful, that's what I want to do. Having the different roles — I definitely feel like it's made me a better person, it's made me a better pitcher. Just go out there and do whatever I can."
Moving to the bullpen has allowed Hancock to pitch more freely. Without the burden of needing to pitch conservatively to extend outings, he's been able to access the peak of his arsenal.
His average fastball velocity (94.8 mph) ranked in the 59th percentile of baseball this year, according to Baseball Savant. That average is nearly five mph slower than his top velocity this season of 99 mph.
With less innings to extend himself through, Hancock has been able to get closer to that top velocity more consistently. He averaged 96 mph with his sinker and 96.9 mph with his four-seamer since transitioning to the bullpen, respectively.
Hancock's also been able to work in his secondary pitches more effectively with the uptick in velocity.
In September, Hancock generated a 75% whiff rate and 50% put-away rate on 23 offerings with his sweeper and a 33.3% whiff rate on 30 offerings with his changeup.
"That's the beauty of the bullpen," Hancock said. "It's one pitch at a time and most of the time it's for one inning. A game like the other day, the other start, you had a couple more pitches but normally it's just 'alright — here we go. all in, this pitch, let it go.' Whatever it may be. It's definitely a cool, different mindset."
Looking back on his first start of the year, many wouldn't have predicted Hancock to make the postseason roster in more than an emergency-starter capacity. Now, he's a potential x-factor on the pitching staff and could serve as a bridge between the rotation and high-leverage relievers for what Seattle hopes will be a deep playoff run.
"It means everything now to be a part of this team," Hancock said. "Especially in the position that we're in. I think when you look back on everything, baseball is just about growth and it's about always pushing forward. You're gonna fail. It's a hard game. But if you're able to turn negatives into positives and keep pushing forward and keep grinding, you'll get opportunities. You just got to try and take advantage of them."
Just because Hancock has moved to the bullpen doesn't mean a start is out of the question for him this postseason.
Bryan Woo's status is questionable for the ALDS entering Saturday. The Mariners' starters for Games 3 and (an if-necessary) Game 4 in Detroit are yet to be announced. If Woo can't go, a bullpen day isn't out of the question, and Hancock's services could be required again in a starting capacity.
"You got to stay ready," Hancock said. "You never know what's gonna happen. Baseball's a game where you can't really predict anything. The game's gonna go a couple different ways, the series could go a different way than what you expect. Our job is to just stay ready. And when your name's called, go out and give your all for the team."
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