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Kiekhefer credits changeup for rise to Majors
- Updated: May 14, 2016
LOS ANGELES — Though he didn’t arrive in time to see anything but the final two outs of the Cardinals’ 8-4 loss on Friday night, lefty Dean Kiekhefer made it to Dodger Stadium armed with the confidence that has been building with the refinement of his changeup.
A day after swapping places with Seth Maness in the Cardinals’ bullpen, Kiekhefer, 26, spoke of how the development of the pitch propelled him into this season, one that he began with six scoreless appearances in Grapefruit League play and another 10 for Triple-A Memphis.
The changeup was a pitch, Kiekhefer said, that right-handers were hitting too frequently until, with the assistance of Triple-A pitching coach Bryan Eversgerd and Minor League pitching coordinator Tim Leveque, he changed his grip last season. Simultaneously, Kiekhefer worked to sharpen his slider, which he hoped could become a weapon against left-handed batters.
The work continued in the Arizona Fall League, where Kiekhefer posted a 2.93 ERA in nine appearances, and into …
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