Bernardino using unique offering to carve out role in Sox pitching staff
Brennan Bernardino's sinker has been one of the most valuable pitches in baseball this season
Brennan Bernardino has been a crucial piece to the Boston Red Sox pitching staff in 2023, posting a 2.43 ERA across 26 appearances, including two as an opener.
The 31-year-old journeyman has dominated opposing hitters thus far in what has been an unlikely rookie season out of the Red Sox pen.
Brennan Bernardino 2023 Stats with ranks amongst all pitchers — min. 20 IP:
2.43 ERA (91st Percentile)
2.97 FIP (89th)
1.04 WHIP (86th)
After just two career MLB appearances prior to this year, Bernardino has provided elite results over 29.2 innings with Boston thanks to his above-average command of the zone and ability to limit hard-hit balls.
3.88 K/BB (79th Percentile)
34.2 Hard Hit% (78th)
5.3 Barrel% (85th)
Per Statcast’s Run Value, Bernardino’s sinker (+11) has been one of the best pitches in Major League Baseball this year. The sidewinder has leaned on the offering as his primary delivery, using it about 60% of the time.
It’s been the most valuable sinker on a rate basis, even ahead of breakout sensation Yennier Canó of the Baltimore Orioles.
Bernardino’s sinker results in 2023:
+11 Run-Value — (4.0 RV/100 — 1st in MLB)
.208 BA / .253 SLG
.253 wOBA (.303 xwOBA)
How has the pitch been so effective?
Similarly to Canó, Bernardino’s sinker movement possesses significant traits of seam-shifted wake — a phenomenon in which the seams on a baseball change the ball’s spin axis in mid-flight leading to late, unexpected movement.
Most of the top sinkers in baseball share this attribute. Hitters see the ball moving one way out of the pitcher’s hand, but the ball actually moves in a contrary fashion as it approaches the plate.
The deception caused by an alteration in spin-based movement makes such pitches difficult to barrel. It’s part of the reason why sinkers often induce weak contact and/or groundballs.
Lefties Scott Alexander of the Giants and Tim Mayza of the Blue Jays have similar sinker movements to Bernardino but pair their sinkers with sliders, whereas Bernardino uses a curveball as his secondary offering.
Bernardino’s curveball has been an effective pitch, even despite underperforming its expected results.
Bernardino’s Curveball Results in 2023:
.212 BA (.187 xBA)
.333 SLG (.280 xSLG)
41.7 Whiff%
15.8 Hard Hit%
Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros is probably the most notable comp to Bernardino in that aspect, as he uses his sinker/curveball combination most heavily, but also mixes in a cutter to keep hitters guessing.
Though Bernardino has succeeded with his heavy-sinker/curve usage so far, it would be interesting to see him add a cutter of his own to bridge the gap between the two pitches.
Regardless, the southpaw should continue to be effective in whatever role Boston uses him this season, as long as the sinker continues to display its current features.