How import is change up?

What age group?  For the longest, the velocity of my son's CU was not enough difference to fool hitters so he hated to throw it. As he got older the the difference in velocity grew and now he loves to throw it. 

Yes, its a trend to throw curve balls earlier because they're generally easier to throw (at least some version of them) and young pitchers will get a lot of hitters out using it.

 

I'm not surprised at your numbers.  I was watching an MLB game this weekend where a pitcher was pretty close to dominant.  He had spent 4 or 5 years in the big leagues with so-so results but had 'broken out' in the last couple of years with the development of a changeup.  10 wins already this year with an ERA in the 2's.  His ERA pre-changeup was in the 5's.

I think it is very important.  My son learned a change up at a very early age.  Like 8 or 9 years old.  Worked very well for him for a while, then from around 14 thru HS, he didn't throw it much in games.  His reason was that batters were always late on his FB and the change kind of put his pitches right in their wheel house.  Even though he said this, I continued to encourage him to throw it in bullpens and continue to work on it.  He would throw it once in a while in games, but not often.

 

Fast forward to college.  It is now his best pitch.  His team mates all comment on how wicked it is and it is really his strike out pitch.  Point is that once you move up to the next level, guys can catch up to any fast ball.  Having the change up is a very valuable tool to have on the mound.  Even though your son may not think it is a good pitch to use, have him work on it anyway.  One day he will need to have it and it will be better to have the foundation there than to have to learn a whole new pitch when the time comes.

To be really effective at older levels you need at least 3 pitches. Most boys I see attempt a change at an earlier age, but stop tossing it once they discover or are allowed to throw a breaking ball - whcih I guess is cooler. But a good to great change is deception at it's finest. And even though I generally fall on the side of a hitter, watching some big swinging turk screw himself into the ground swinging at a changeup is always worth the price of admission. 

Very, very important the older you get.  The CU is the second best pitch besides the FB.  Younger years a decent curve is devastating.  As you get older, say 16+, the good hitters can easily see the breaking ball spin, adjust, and hammer - unless your breaking ball is mid to upper 80's.  Low CU's make the hitter look foolish.

I have a 2016 that has already garnered alot of interest because of his velocity.He too started throwing a CU right from the biginning.Did'nt start throwing a CB till H.S.If his velocity keeps progressing as he goes thru his Jr. and Sr. year it will be his CU beyond the other 2 pitches he throws that will take him on his journey

Young kids feel that a CB is "must have" pitch because it's cool to throw.  This summer our HS program has a lot incoming kids, the most we've had in 5 years or so.  Pur pitching philosophy for the summer is FB and CU...limiting the CB to 5 or 6 an outing. Hammering home location, location, location.  It's nice to watch the kids learn to trust the CU when effectively combined with the FB and location.  CB will stay in the pen until the fall.

I'm a big fan of the changeup.  Both of our sons use it as their 'out-pitch.'

 

But a point of reference, bbscout used to say on here that the pitch he wanted to see was a good slider.  Wish he was still around to discuss it.

justbaseball- +1. A good slider is more effective against both LHHs and RHHs than the same caliber curveball. The spin, depth, and velocity are all more similar to a fastball and therefore more deceptive to a hitter.

It is desirable for a prospect that has arm strength to show the ability to create velocity on a breaking pitch, because that is something that can't be taught. A changeup - the feel and command of the pitch (one that inherently requires less tight spin) - is something that can be taught.

And, for the record, justbaseball's older son does have a very good changeup.

Keep in mind, folks, that current process is far more important than current results in terms of a talent evaluator's ability to project a player's future performance.

My son is still working on his CU. He doesn't throw it often in games. It is not quite slow enough to make a huge difference between his fastball, yet finds that most HS players can't keep up with his fastball but the difference of 5 MPH or so and they can hit it (CU). He has 2 other pitches - CB and Slider. Slider is his strike out pitch for most part. His future collage coach has him working in bullpen throwing CU 20-30 to develop it. His basic premise is FB and especially 2 seam fast baseball and slider are close to same speed, CB is good but CU that is 8-10 MPH slower with same motion will be really good for him.

 

I think when a really good hitter faces my son, he gets hit semi often, certainly more than he would like. As he moves onto college, there will be many more of those good hitters. Hence the need to develop the CU 

Something else.  Our older son (has a little MLB time) told me that through 3 pitches it is important to have 3 speeds.  Whatever the mix of pitches, 3 speeds is important.

 

Makes sense to me.

Showcase was 15-18 yr olds. 

Thanks for replies. Agree that older, better players can hit FB and something else is needed. 

Son's college coach says there is almost no such thing as a good change-up hitter in college ball and stresses its development.  It's harder to do well than most people realize.  

Agree with that it is hard to master. My son has worked harder on that pitch than any he has ever thrown. It is a thing of beauty when thrown correctly by someone. Johnny Cueto come to mind

As others have posted you really need it as you go up in age, at younger ages you can "throw it into bats" You have to have it to throw against "other handers" for a RHP it is a must against  LHHers. The ability to get two plane movement that is different from a slider gives a pitcher three pitches with three different speeds, with three planes. It is one of the more difficult pitches to master. A couple come to my mind, Trevor Hoffman a closer who worked off his change, and Johan Santana a LHP who devastated RHHers with it. Don't forget about Pedro, who many think about his FB, but his change was wicked.  

Gotta wonder just how much of this conversation will change for the college kids with the new ball coming soon.

Excellent point proud!

 

My son loves the low seam ball for his FB and CU. Slider not so much, but he can throw a good curve with one also.

 

a bit of a thanks goes out the PGStaff for that one as PG has been using them in events for years. 

I love this topic!

I remember the hot discussions we used to have here, curve vs changeup, for youth pitchers. All of those who insisted their pitchers dominated with their CB and didn't need FB or a CU at that age don't post here anymore!

Hmmmm, I wonder why!

The change up has become a game changer, teach it early because the more the young pitcher gets set in his ways, the harder it is to master the CU.  FB, CU more important!

 

Son doesn't throw a CB because he uses a slider, pitchers, I have been told, should use one or the other and that is dependent on the pitcher.   He  also never developed the CU to his satisfaction, as he always relied on his 2 seamer for the off speed.

 

Read a very interesting article about new ball and cold/colder weather(all to most northern schools) and some of the difficulties/problems the pitchers will have with grip and cold.I agree chefmike when my guy has it going its really something to watch.

For my son, a plus CU meant a 20% bump in his offer. 

My son has an excellent CU and slider, and commands the strike zone.  However, as a 2015 who sits 83-85, all he hears right now from schools is they want more velocity.  And this is from mid-major programs....velo remains the #1 priority for recruiters.