Mariners' Emerson Hancock makes 10-degree change since MLB debut

Emerson Hancock's arm is dropping down.

Since the Seattle Mariners' right-handed pitcher debuted in MLB in 2023, his arm slot has dropped.

He had a temporary rise from year one to year two, but now it's sinking.

Hancock's release point was at a 23-degree angle in his rookie year. This year, it's as low as it has ever been: 13 degrees.

This is how that looks in graphical form:

I see you, Emerson Hancockhttps://t.co/Q5rBWwqLhx pic.twitter.com/CGyjOljQNT

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At least in Hancock's first start of the season, it appeared effective.

The lanky right-hander went 6.0 innings, struck out nine and didn't allow a hit last week against the Cleveland Guardians.

The last time a Mariners pitcher put up that combination of statistics was when Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game in 2012.

If Hancock can keep up his effectiveness going forward, people will definitely start to look even deeper into his lower arm slot and what that means for his overall arsenal.

It's definitely something that has worked in the past for relief pitchers. Can it work over the long course of a game as a starting pitcher? Hancock is putting himself in position to try and find out.

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