Hunter Dobbins has emerged as one of many prime pitching prospects within the Purple Sox system. Chosen within the eighth spherical of the 2021 draft out of Texas Tech College, the 25-year-old right-hander is coming off of a 2024 season through which he logged a 3.08 ERA and a 3.04 FIP over 125 2/3 innings between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. Assigned a 40+ FV grade by Eric Longenhagen after being added to Boston’s 40-man roster in November, Dobbins was known as “a near-ready fifth starter prospect” by our lead prospect analyst again in July.
Dobbins mentioned his repertoire and strategy when the Purple Sox held their annual Rookie Improvement Camp at Fenway Park earlier this month.
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David Laurila: What have you ever most realized about pitching since attending to professional ball?
Hunter Dobbins: “I might say learn how to assault hitters. Each single yr I’m studying learn how to observe our plan and execute that plan. I believe I’ve taken a giant step ahead in that facet. The pitch shapes are additionally getting much more constant. Final yr, a few my pitches would have nearly two totally different actions. This yr, I’m having constant motion in order that I can go proper at hitters. However general, it’s extra of the technique aspect of issues the place I’ve realized probably the most.”
Laurila: How do you stability attacking weaknesses versus throwing your pitches the place they have a tendency to play greatest?
Dobbins: “I aspect extra on sticking to my strengths. That mentioned, I’ve 5 pitches. I’ve pitches that transfer in all totally different instructions, so I’m going to keep in mind if a man struggles on this half of the plate with pitches that transfer on this course; I’m going to have a power in that realm. However I’m additionally not going to draw back from one thing I do know I can land, even when that’s thought of one in all his strengths. I’m going to take my greatest ball versus his greatest swing and see what occurs.”
Laurila: What number of pitches did you’ve whenever you signed?
Dobbins: “4, however I solely throw two of these pitches now. I got here to professional ball with a four-seam and a curveball, each of which I nonetheless throw, and I additionally had a sinker and a circle change. Now I’m four-seam, curveball, sweeper, gyro slider, and splinker.”
Laurila: How do you outline splinker?
Dobbins: “It has related motion to how my circle change was once. The numbers are zero and as much as about 10, however as a substitute of it being 84 [mph] it’s about 89 to 92. Paul Skenes throws one, though we’ve two completely totally different grips. I discovered mine in a pregame warmup bullpen. Kyle Teel was catching me, and he mentioned, ‘Hey, we have to throw that.’
“I’d instructed my coach that I wished to throw a sinker that day. I threw one within the pen, and it wasn’t good. He was like, ‘Alright, let’s do that.’ It was the splinker grip that I’ve now, and Teel nearly jumped up and down once I threw it the primary time. He was like, ‘We’re throwing that within the sport right this moment.’ I did, and I believe I acquired 4 or 5 punchouts with it. We’ve run with it since.”
Laurila: Was that this previous season?
Dobbins: “Sure, towards the tip of the season. I’ve solely thrown the splinker for a few month and a half.”
Laurila: Who was the pitching coach?
Dobbins: “Sean Isaac, up in Portland. He launched it to me, and I’ve since been working with [pitching coordinator] Justin Willard and [major league pitching coach] Andrew Bailey on attempting to wash it up slightly bit for this yr.”
Laurila: How does the grip differ from the one Skenes throws?
Dobbins: “It’s a distinct seam orientation. He grabs his in a extra conventional splitter means, and makes use of the seams to type of get the motion. I curl a finger and hook a distinct seam to get the identical spin. Our arms work in two alternative ways, however we find yourself getting the identical end result with totally different grips.”
Laurila: I assume the index finger is the one you’re curling?
Dobbins: “Sure. I’m a middle-finger-dominant pitcher — that’s why I throw issues very well that transfer to my glove aspect — however curling my index finger permits me to get that motion to my arm aspect.”
Laurila: How would you rank your pitches?
Dobbins: “That’s a great query. If I’m going for a strikeout, it’s positively the splinker on the prime. The sweeper might be subsequent, adopted by the gyro, the curveball, after which the fastball. I’ve used my fastball principally as a setup, though I’ve been beginning to throw it more durable. I need to be sitting round 97 this yr, and a fastball at that [velocity] will possibly turn into extra of a strikeout pitch for me.”
Laurila: Velocity apart, how would you describe your four-seamer?
Dobbins: “I’ve type of a riding-cut form to it. I’ll often throw one that may be a related form to Kenley Jansen’s cutter. I’m looking for a cheerful medium the place I’m not fairly chopping it that a lot.”
Laurila: You talked about a number of pitches having had “nearly two totally different actions” final season. Was that one in all them?
Dobbins: “No, it was the sweeper and the splinker. The gyro, curveball, and fastball had been all fairly constant. With the sweeper, we tried a bunch of various grips, looking for which one works greatest. The splinker I used to be simply getting used to throwing it, discovering the way it feels off the finger.”
Laurila: Is your sweeper higher when it’s getting extra side-to-side, or when it’s slightly shorter and possibly not as straightforward for a hitter to choose up?
Dobbins: “When it’s one thing that’s not as apparent, I throw from a really excessive arm slot, so it’s slightly bit more durable to get these huge sweepers. We lastly discovered one the place I can leverage my fingers on some seams to get the fitting spin, in order that air grabs these seams and takes it. I’m excited, as a result of we’ve made a pair adjustments this offseason to make it so much higher. I believe it’s going to be a big impact pitch this yr.”
Laurila: Do you think about your self an influence pitcher?
Dobbins: “I don’t wish to name myself an influence pitcher, as a result of I wish to deal with hitting my spots. I’m extra of the old-school art-of-pitching [type]: go out and in, plus and minus the fastball. That’s why you’ll generally see me throw a fastball at 94 to set a man up, then observe it up with one at 97. I’ve type of realized the Greg Maddux methods. However with the velo I’ve been gaining, I suppose I might begin falling below that power-pitcher label.
“I would like my Okay/9 to be nearer to 10, possibly 10-plus, this yr. Final season, I wasn’t as centered on getting strikeouts; it was extra chasing shapes — till I acquired to Triple-A. At Double-A, they inform us, ‘Hey, we’re attempting to chase growth. We’re attempting to get pretty much as good as we are able to, in order that after we get to Triple-A we are able to simply go.’ This yr, I’m going to be hitting the bottom operating, attempting to not simply win ballgames, but in addition strike hitters out. I believe the numbers will replicate that.”
