Jake Irvin is set to become the Nationals Number 2 starter this season after a promising 2024 campaign. While he struggled in the second half, Irvin was a rock in Nats Rotation, pitching the team’s high 187.2 innings last season. But his thing didn’t look the same in his outing against Cardinals today.
Fastball speed is the biggest problem. he average Today he came to the top with 93 at 91.4 mph on his heater. In the context, his heater averaged 93.9 mph in 2024. 58.4% Time. Irvin’s bread and butter are fastballs and he needs speed to become the mid-90s to succeed. Homer gave up on Alec Burleson, he heater At just 89.4 mph.
The Nationals rely on Irvin to give them a lot of innings and pitch at a high level. If he’s throwing 91 mph, it simply doesn’t happen. Jake Irvin is not a Greg Maddux level command artist, so speed is required. He’s not even Trevor Williams, where the 80s high heater is played for a deception.
This is a situation that needs to be monitored as you enter the regular season. Irvin said he felt it. Physically detailed This is safe after you start. However, the Nationals’ younger rotations should show that they are legal in 2025.
People like Irvin and Mitchell Parker wiped out the stretch after a strong start. Was it just fatigue, or was it a bad forerunner? Not sure, but what I know is that in order for Jake Irvin to build his 2024 campaign, he will need to find his speed. Irvin too I didn’t throw it His new slider was very excited for the beginning of spring. This is the blip on the radar and I hope Irvin can return to his best in the regular season.
