Promising rival pitcher develops new “Gausman splitter”, making him even more lethal

We all know about the heated rivalry between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees as they constantly battle it out in the American League East division. The rivalry has certainly escalated in recent years with the Alek Manoah-Gerrit Cole verbal confrontation, along with Jays manager John Schneider’s accusations of the Yankees of potential sign stealing just the past season.

Well, the Yankees have found a huge weapon that could hurt the Jays in the long run with promising pitcher Clarke Schmidt. Apparently, the former first-round pick of the Yankees from the 2017 MLB Draft has recently worked on and developed the “Gausman splitter” to add to his mix of pitches. According to the New York Post,, Schmidt didn’t like the grip he had with his changeup previously so he examined a slow-mo version of Jays’ ace Kevin Gausman throwing his splitter to see his grip. As a result, he has now incorporated it into his changeup to make it a split-changeup offering. After utilizing it during recent spring training games, he has liked the preliminary results of it so far.

“The combination of location and shape was probably the best it’s been … It’s literally a completely new changeup. It’s kind of like a splitter shape, a little harder, a little more depth. I was really encouraged by the shapes tonight,” Schmidt said in reference to a game on March 4th against the Miami Marlins.

Afte coming off a solid season in 2022 in which he pitched to a 3.12 ERA, 1.20 WHIP while averaging almost a strikeout per inning mainly as a reliever, Schmidt was unable to carry that success over to 2023 when he was used mainly as a starter. Last season, he compiled a 9-9 record with a 4.64 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, giving up 82 earned runs including 24 home runs, along with 149 strikeouts in 159 innings pitched. With Schmidt looking to adjust his pitching mechanics to make him a much more effective option as a starter for the Yankees, the addition of the “Gausman splitter” to his pitching arsenal could potentially be a huge difference maker for the 28-year-old. 

Just what the Jays needed, the Yankees stealing from them once again. But this time around, the Bronx Bombers have capitalized by taking one of the best pitches in the game and making it one their own now. In doing so, it will make life even more miserable for the Jays when they need to face Schmidt and the Yankees in the future. Don’t look now, as the rivalry is about to reach another level going forward.