"It's finally clicking'; WooSox pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn talks about 2024 success
Whenever a pitcher has been clocked at 100 MPH on his fastball, a few more eyeballs will be drawn his way. Now pair the big heater with the tag of being a third round draft pick that is seeing a ton of success this year.
Ryan Zeferjahn is starting to really make a name for himself amongst Red Sox fans after an outstanding start in Double-A Portland to start the year that led to his promotion to Triple-A Worcester.
The right-hander was once considered a top prospect in the system after the Red Sox took him in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Kansas. Zeferjahn was originally a starter, but a struggle with walks and a declining strikeout rate landed him in the bullpen role that better suited his style of pitching. Now he is off to his best start to a season since he was drafted and credits quite a few things.
“It was a combination of everything.” Zeferjahn said of what has clicked this season. “I got the body in better shape and my mechanics in a better spot. It finally just clicked. I have a delivery that is hard to repeat. Just being able to repeat it very close every time and being in the zone. I think I was giving hitters too much credit the last few years. I am just trying to throw everything in the zone and let the guys get themselves out. I have the stuff to be able to get away with some mistakes. Being in the zone is the main thing. When I get in two strike counts that is when it is time to kick in and throw that nasty strikeout pitch. Understanding that I need to throw strikes to be successful and not just have nasty stuff.”
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The 26-year-old has appeared in four games since being called up to Worcester and has not allowed an earned run yet. While it is a very common theme for pitchers to struggle with the ABS once they arrive to Triple-A, Zeferjahn knows exactly what his biggest flaw is and has attacked it head on.
“Being able to adjust to the zone is the biggest thing for me.” Zeferjahn said of adjusting to Triple-A. “In the past, strike throwing has been my problem. This year, it was very successful in Double-A, and it has been up and down in Worcester. The biggest thing is still going through my routine of attacking every hitter and not changing everything. The walks are going to be there for me. I have pretty good stuff so sometimes it is hard to control in the zone. The thing is to limit the damage when things do go wrong because you won’t have your best stuff every day. Having some subpar stuff and being able to be successful in the innings I don’t have my best stuff is the most important thing for me.”
If you are someone who has followed the Red Sox minor league system over the years, you might know a thing or two about the team that used to play in Lowell.
The Lowell Spinners were the Class-A short season affiliate of the Red Sox from 1996-2020. It’s a running joke amongst players in the system that if they were members of Lowell, they are considered “old” and have been around forever.
“If I was in Lowell, then I am considered old around here.” Zeferjahn said of being in the Red Sox organization.” This is the best I have felt in any year. The organization has definitely gone through changes. I wasn’t questioning when they first came out with everything with the new pitching program in the organization. I was interested in experimenting with it and see how it was. I went to DriveLine two offseasons ago, so I had a little bit of a taste of what they do. I took what they wanted to do and ran with it. I really learned some good things with the weighted balls and the pitch design and usage. I really got to see behind the scenes with how my pitches really played. I found out that my two off-speed pitches play much better than my fastball, which I just throw really hard. Them telling me to use my off-speed more has really helped me. That is the thing you see throughout the organization of going off-speed first. I also keep a level head on using my fastball which I will never get away from. I have a big fastball and I have talked to them about it. The usage of my off-speed has helped driven my success this year.”
When a guy is promoted to Triple-A, it signals that they are right on the doorstep of the major leagues. Just one call away from what every person has dreamed about their entire life.
I asked Zeferjahn if he has had any talks with the team in regards to what he needs to do to get that next call up.
“It’s throwing the ball in the zone consistently.” Zeferjahn added. “They have been pounding that in my head the past three years. I have been working hard on it the last three years and it just never clicked. It finally is and that’s the key to success going forward. I have the nasty stuff and always have, it’s just about being consistent in the zone and limiting pitches per inning. Being in the zone early and trying to get those quick outs and limit the walks is my key to the big leagues.”
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Called up?
“It’s throwing the ball in the zone consistently. They have been pounding that in my head the past three years. I have been working hard on it the last three years and it just never clicked. It finally is and that’s the key to success going forward. I have the nasty stuff and always have, it’s just about being consistent in the zone and limiting pitches per inning. Being in the zone early and trying to get those quick outs and limit the walks is my key to the big leagues.”