As Freddy Peralta Searches For Consistency, the Brewers Continue Encouraging His Adjustments

Freddy Peralta’s season has been a year-long search for consistency. Peralta entered the year atop the Brewers rotation but has instead performed more like a mid-rotation starter than an ace, posting a 4.11 ERA and 4.13 FIP in 24 starts.

In his quest to recapture his best form, Peralta has applied a variety of tweaks throughout the season. He’s enacted a few more changes in recent weeks.

Peralta has traditionally pitched out of the windup with the bases empty, beginning his motion to the plate by bringing his hands over his head. In his last three starts, he has pitched exclusively out of the stretch. The change came after Peralta noted to Milwaukee’s pitching development brass that he felt his command was better when using the simpler motion.

“I think it just allows him to get his head on target a little earlier,” pitching coach Chris Hook said. “He’s got the head over the hands [out of the windup], and we just felt like he’s getting into a better position delivery-wise out of the stretch more often and throwing the ball where he wants to command-wise.”

Peralta added another wrinkle in his last start against the Dodgers. He used three distinct motions out of the stretch: his standard delivery, a truncated one in which he is quicker to the plate, and a longer one with a stutter in his leg lift. Peralta mixed the three throughout the night, including a three-pitch strikeout of Teoscar Hernández that featured each variation.

This isn’t the first time Peralta has experimented with different offshoots of his traditional delivery. He’s featured them periodically throughout the last three seasons when he and the Brewers feel they’re necessary and helpful, particularly during the 2022 season.

Mixing deliveries gives hitters multiple looks and makes Peralta harder to time up, but the Brewers also believe it’s beneficial for him mechanically.

“It is part of the understanding of hitters and their timing mechanism and trying to disrupt that, but I also think he gets into his delivery a little bit better when he does it,” Hook said.

Adaptability and a willingness to adjust are positive traits for a pitcher, but the volume of alterations Peralta has tried this season raises an important question: can a player attempt too many modifications to their detriment?

Absolutely, Hook says. What constitutes too much varies for each pitcher, though, and the Brewers trust Peralta as much as any hurler on the staff when it comes to trying new things.

“This guy’s been in the big leagues for seven years, so if that’s something that makes him feel better and more convicted, go to it.”

That flexibility isn’t offered to everyone, but the Brewers extend it to experienced pitchers who know their bodies and mechanics. The 28-year-old Peralta meets those criteria.

“He’s earned that freedom,” Hook said. “It’s not like I’m just giving it.”

The hope is that Peralta can reach a comfortable spot that unlocks his best form more consistently. The Brewers could use that version of him down the stretch and into what will hopefully be a deep playoff run.