Rehab Stints: Sawyer Gipson-Long, Emmet Sheehan
How do Sawyer Gipson-Long and Emmet Sheehan look in their rehab starts
In this article I will be highlighting a pair of MLB pitchers currently on rehab stints and what has changed since the last time they have pitched in MLB.
Sawyer Gipson-Long
Sawyer Gipson-Long made waves at the end of the 2023 season, however the hype promptly dissipated prior to 2024 as he required a pair of surgeries which kept him out for the season. Now fully recovered from both hip and elbow surgery, SGL is expected to make his MLB debut this week, and Tigers fans would be thrilled to hear that he looks ready to roll!
Gipson-Long’s velocity is nearly all the way back as he sat 92-94 MPH in his pair of AAA rehab starts. The biggest change for SGL has been an adjustment to his delivery. His arm angle has dropped ~6° compared to 2023, and it has led to drastic change in his arsenal. His fastball now has a lot more run compared to its 2023 iteration. I would expect this extra arm-side movement will lead to more chases against LHH but limit its whiff potential. His sinker and changeup have also seen slight changes in their shapes with additional arm-side movement being the most notable.
SGL’s slider has undergone the biggest overhaul as it is exhibiting minimal depth (~0” iVB) and half a foot of sweep. This differs by 3” less sweep and 3” less depth compared to his 2023 version. Although its pitch grades have stayed constant (102 tjStuff+), I like this adjustment as it should allow him to better control the offering and use it as a platoon neutral option.
Sawyer Gipson-Long has a bunch of intriguing tools that make a sneaky pick to excel upon his return. His elite extension, deep arsenal filled fill solid pitches, and formidable command give him the foundation to hit the ground running and be a key piece as the Tigers push for the AL Central title
Emmet Sheehan
Emmet Sheehan set MiLB ablaze in 2023 prior to his MLB debut where he flashed a strong fastball and a trio of interesting secondaries. Sheehan was unfortunately sidelined the entity of 2024 following Tommy John Surgery. He is expected to rejoin the Dodgers ailing rotation later this June.
Sheehan made a drastic change to his delivery and is now releasing more from a true 3/4 slot rather than his prior low 3/4 slot from 2023. Similar to SGL, this adjustment has cascaded to his pitch shapes with his fastball being the most impacted. Sheehan already had a strong fastball thanks to its mid 90s velocity and shallow approach, and it might even be better now! In his last rehab start he averaged 97 MPH on his heater while generating 16” iVB from a 5.5 ft release. This led to a -3.9° VAA and an elite 52.9 Whiff% on the day. I don’t expect the velocity bump to hold as he stretches out, but everything about his fastball seems right in line with his pre-injury self.
His changeup has also seen some changes, and for the better! He is generating more depth on the offering and tossing it ~2 MPH harder than 2023. This version of his changeup should work as an effective put away offering against LHH. While we haven’t seen his sweeper in AAA, I would expect it to exhibit more depth and less glove-side action, which should push it toward a curveball.
The biggest knock against Sheehan is his inability to throw strikes. It has plagued him throughout his pro-career, and although he has yet to issue a walk in his rehab stints, he is struggling to find the zone. Sheehan will get a few more rehab starts in AAA before he is ready to join the Dodgers rotation. All the signs are there for a dependable backend option upon his return, with the ceiling to be a mid-rotation arm if he can sharpen his command.
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