11
Brewers’ Harrison Returns from IL: Wait Until You See His New Weapon
Kyle Harrison’s Changeup Puzzle: Why a Promising Pitch Vanished (And How He’s Trying to Get It Back)
Published: August 5, 2026 | By: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Big Picture: A Pitch That Disappeared
Imagine you’re a chef who invents an amazing new sauce during practice. Everyone loves it. But when the restaurant opens for real customers, you barely use it—and when you do, it tastes wrong. That’s exactly what happened to Kyle Harrison, a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, with his brand-new changeup.
What Is a Changeup, Anyway?
ELI5 Definition: A changeup is a slow pitch that looks like a fastball. The batter swings early, expecting heat, but the ball arrives late. It’s one of the best tools for fooling hitters.
- Harrison’s main pitches:
- Four-seam fastball (58% usage) – his "heater," straight and fast
- Slurve (31% usage) – a mix of a slider and curveball, breaks sideways and down
- Changeup (only 10% usage) – the mystery pitch
Spring Training Success vs. Regular Season Struggles
| Phase | Changeup Usage | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Training | Featured heavily | "Fantastic results," lots of buzz |
| Regular Season | Only 10% of pitches | Batters hitting .273 with .485 slugging (2 HRs in 33 at-bats) |
| Best single game | 16.8% (17 pitches) | Still didn’t generate more than 2 whiffs (swing-and-misses) in any game |
Important Point: Since April 26, Harrison has thrown the changeup more than 10% of the time in only three games.
Why Is the Changeup So Hard? The "Wonky Grip" Problem
Harrison throws a kick changeup—a special type that requires a very unusual grip:
- Middle finger is spiked (dug into the ball with the fingertip)
- Index finger rests on the side
- Thumb underneath for support
"It’s such a wonky grip," Harrison said. "Certain situations in game speed you come set, pitch clock’s at eight [seconds], my grip’s not fully set. You’re worried that you gotta go, you gotta go. You lose the grip a little."
The Blister Battle
| Blister Location | Cause | Current Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Middle finger tip | Too much pressure digging into ball | Adjusted grip pressure |
| Side of thumb | Index finger sliding off at release | Medical glue applied before every game |
Pitching Is All About Conviction
"Pitching is all about conviction, and if there’s hesitation about a certain pitch – even a semblance of it – you better throw something else."
When Harrison doubts his grip, he abandons the changeup and throws his fastball or slurve instead. It becomes a vicious cycle:
- Uncertain grip → 2. Bad result → 3. Less confidence → 4. Throws it even less → 5. Never builds feel
The Rehab Start: A "Low-Stakes Lab"
Harrison missed nearly a month (injury rehab) and made one rehab start for High-A Wisconsin (a minor league team) on July 31.
His Mission: "Spam the Changeup"
| What He Did | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|
| Threw changeup over and over | Built "game reps" – real at-bats, real hitters |
| Used it out of the stretch AND windup | Practiced all delivery types |
| Focused on "selling it like a heater" | Same arm speed, same arm slot = deception |
| Targeted right-handed batters | Changeups work best vs. opposite-handed hitters |
"It was the best the changeup has felt all regular season," Harrison said. "It’s about getting game reps with that pitch… Out of the stretch, out of the windup, the game reps and arm speed, selling it like a heater."
The Real Test: August 5 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Harrison makes his first big-league start in nearly a month on August 5 against the Pirates.
Why This Game Matters
- Pirates lineup has several right-handed hitters who struggle vs. changeups
- Perfect opportunity to use the pitch he’s been practicing
- Big question: Does the confidence from High-A carry over to the majors?
"Throwing it against big-league hitters… is a different story," the article notes. "We’ll see if the conviction carries over."
Step-by-Step: How Harrison Is Fixing His Changeup
- Diagnose the grip issues – Identified blister causes, adjusted finger pressure
- Protect the fingers – Medical glue on thumb blister prevents reopening
- Simplify the mental cue – "Throw it like a heater" (trust arm speed and slot)
- Get game repetitions – Used rehab start to throw it a lot in real situations
- Build trust through results – Felt good in High-A, now test vs. MLB hitters
- Deploy strategically – Target righties in Pirates lineup who chase changeups
Summary: The Comeback Pitch
| What We Know | What’s Next |
|---|---|
| Harrison has a killer changeup grip that worked in spring | Will he trust it vs. MLB hitters? |
| Blisters + pitch clock ruined his feel early in season | Can he maintain the grip at game speed? |
| Rehab start proved he can throw it well when committed | Will conviction translate to results? |
| August 5 start = first real test | Usage % and whiff rate will tell the story |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. What’s a "kick changeup" and how is it different from a regular changeup?
A kick changeup uses a spiked middle finger (dug into the ball) to create extra spin and movement. It’s harder to control but can dive more sharply. Think of it like a "premium version" with a steeper learning curve.
2. Why does the pitch clock make it harder to throw this pitch?
The pitch clock gives pitchers 15-20 seconds between pitches. Harrison’s grip is so precise that he needs time to "set" his fingers perfectly. When the clock ticks down, he rushes → grip slips → bad pitch.
3. What’s a "rehab start" and why was it in High-A?
When MLB players recover from injury, they play practice games in the minor leagues (High-A is two levels below MLB). It lets them test things in real games without hurting the big-league team’s record.
4. Why throw the changeup mostly to right-handed batters?
Harrison is a lefty. Changeups fade away from opposite-handed hitters (righties), making them swing over the top. Same-handed hitters (lefties) see the ball better, so changeups are less effective.
5. What does "selling it like a heater" mean?
It means identical arm action, arm speed, and release point as his fastball. The batter cannot tell the difference until it’s too late. If he slows his arm down, the hitter detects it.
Final Thought: Baseball is a game of adjustments. Harrison had a great pitch, lost it, diagnosed why, practiced the fix in a safe space, and now faces the ultimate test. August 5 will tell us if the magic is back.
