Shane Bieber's new and improved changeup is deadly

Shane Bieber's debut was everything that Blue Jays fans could have hoped for. Bieber went six strong innings, fanning nine while allowing just one earned run on two hits. For a pitcher who hasn't pitched in the majors for over 500 days, it was as if Bieber hadn't skipped a beat.

Bieber's command was, and still is, a beautiful thing. What's especially dominant about his arsenal, though, is his devastating new changeup, one that he has recently improved while rehabbing. In the minors, he had a few issues locating it, but tonight he had no problems, as he painted nearly every one of them.

Shane Bieber's new and improved changeup is deadly

The pitch was averaging three mph faster than it did back in 2022, now sitting less than five miles per hour slower than his fastball. That firm velocity gap made it especially deceptive against the young Marlins (second youngest team in the league), and the results speak for themselves—hitters swung at it six times and came up empty on four of them.

Bieber’s changeup has taken on a new look since his return, sacrificing some of its horizontal run for added depth. The new and improved weapon for Bieber gives it a shape that plays more like a sinker. The adjustment made it especially tough on left-handed hitters, darting down and away to generate weak contact and whiffs.

The changeup reached a high of 37 inches of drop and 15 inches of horizontal break, which caused the Marlins hitters to look like little boys against a man. In terms of velocity, Bieber's changeup was sitting at 89.1 mph, while it sat at 89 mph last time he was on the rubber, which is more than just promising.

While displaying the new pitch down in Triple-A Buffalo, catcher Brandon Valenzuela had some kind words. "I think that pitch has a bright future,” he says. “The first time he threw it to me, it was amazing. I couldn’t tell you what he’s done to change it, but I’m telling you whatever it is, it’s been working really well.

For the Blue Jays, this is more than just a strong debut. It’s a reminder of how important he can be to a staff, especially down the stretch. If Bieber can sustain his electric arsenal, including his devastating new changeup, the Blue Jays’ rotation instantly looks much more dangerous.

If October baseball is in the cards for the Jays, it’s easy to imagine Shane Bieber being the guy to set the tone in Game 1. Of course, one start doesn’t define a season, but he looked like his veteran self.