Rehabbing DL Hall Determined to Restore His Lively Fastball

DL Hall made his first start in what figures to be a multi-appearance rehab assignment on Sunday, throwing one inning for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Of Hall’s 11 pitches, seven were fastballs. His heater sat at 94 miles per hour, and he touched 95 twice.

That was a notable development, even in a small sample. Hall never touched 95 during his four starts with the Brewers at the start of the regular season, and threw just one pitch (94.6) that was rounded up to that mark by the stadium gun. Finding and maintaining that kind of velocity are focal points of his rehab.

“That’s definitely a big point of emphasis for me,” Hall said. “I’ve always thrown really hard, so it’s kind of something that I crave a little bit, so we’re working towards that. Getting back to multiple 95s [in] a day is the best I’ve had all year.”

In those four starts, Hall’s fastball lacked the life that ensorcelled scouts and made him a whiff machine out of the Orioles’ bullpen last year. The pitch got up to 97 during spring training, but was never fully right after the team packed up and headed north. In addition to shedding several ticks of velocity, it also lost multiple inches of induced vertical break, the kind of movement that often helps a good four-seamer carry through the strike zone and deceive hitters. These developments turned a plus fastball into a batting practice pitch.

Hall’s velocity tumbled further after he aggravated his left knee while fielding a bunt in his last start on Apr. 20. He revealed that he’s dealt with the ailment since 2021, but the pain and impact on mobility never reached an extent that kept him off the mound. After the bunt play, he and the Brewers decided it was best to give him time to recover and strengthen the knee.

“It was kind of one of those things where it was either keep spinning my wheels and trying to fight through it, or take this time early in the year and get back to 100 percent,” Hall said.

While Hall has not used it as an excuse, it stands to reason that the lack of stability in his push-off knee (which helps him generate power as he drives down the mound) hampered his ability to throw the ball with conviction.

“I kind of described it as one of those car dealership balloon guys,” he said. “Those things that blow up and wave everywhere. That’s kind of what my back leg felt like.”

Restoring that stability, he acknowledged, is key to rediscovering the life on his fastball.

“I’ve always been a super big leg driver. That’s kind of where my velocity’s always [come] from, to kind of take the stress off the arm. Just having that super stable and strong lower body is huge for me.”

Hall’s next appearance will be with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. The Brewers have not yet decided whether to stretch him back out as a starter or limit him to shorter stints as a reliever.  Stuff, not length, is the focus for both parties at the moment.

The short-term plan, Hall said, is to make a few more one-inning appearances with the Sounds to prove that the lively fastball is back. Then, the goal will shift to maintaining velocity as he builds up his pitch count.

Hall remains an integral part of Milwaukee’s pitching mix in 2024 and beyond. Sunday was a step in the right direction as he tries to work his way back into form.