Guardians pitcher Cal Quantrill provides insight on pitching strategy

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cal Quantrill is looking to improve on his breakout 2021 season with a process-focused approach to pitching.

As baseball fans, coaches, and players, we can learn a lot from listening to MLB players discuss what they think about during a game. Often, elite athletes will discuss a process-focused mindset in which they try to simplify what they need to do to be successful.

Just recently, after pitching two scoreless innings in a spring training game against the Mariners, Guardians pitcher Cal Quantrill provided insight to his thought process when taking the mound. Specifically, Quantrill explained a process-focused approach toward pitching.

In particular, a specific strategy Quantrill utilizes is to remind himself of his plan for the first few innings. For instance, Quantrill described that he focuses on seeing strikes, then throwing strikes. He also emphasized that he tried to obtain five outs before throwing a curveball.

After he gets into the flow, Quantrill will throw different pitches he has been working on when the chance for a negative outcome is minimized. For example, he may throw various types of pitches when no one is on base, and there is an 0-2 count with two outs.

Since the middle of the 2021 season, Quantrill’s approach has been extremely effective.
After being added to the starting rotation, Quantrill pitched spectacularly. Pitching solely as a starting pitcher from June 15 to September 27, Quantrill started 20 games and amassed an 8-1 record with a 2.79 ERA. In addition, he had 93 strikeouts and only gave up 35 walks in 116 innings of work during this time period.

Based on Quantrill’s successful 2021 campaign, Guardians manager Terry Francona is confident Quantrill has the ability to pitch well again this season.

In his most recent preseason start, Quantrill faced six Seattle Mariners batters and did not give up a run, hit, or walk over two innings. After his first preseason start, Quantrill seems to have picked up right where he left off at the end of last season.