Dunning reveals new pitch in Spring Training opener ... sort of

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning has been teasing a new pitch since January. He threw it to prospect Wyatt Langford in live batting practice last week. He threw it again in Texas’ Cactus League opener against the Royals on Friday.

But Dunning’s new mystery pitch will remain that way for a little while longer.

“I threw it one time in the game, but I’m still not gonna tell you guys what it is,” Dunning said after the Rangers’ 5-4 win. “But it went about 47 feet, that's for sure. I was throwing it great in the bullpen and in the game I just told myself I didn't want to just float in there. I kind of just ripped it and spiked it 47 feet. Then I threw a changeup right after that and sailed it five feet above his head, so I’ve got to work a little bit in between those two and should be able to get dialed in.”

Dunning’s current arsenal includes a sinker (33.1% in 2023), slider (23.4%), cutter (20%), changeup (15.6%) and curveball (4.7%).

While Dunning won’t divulge exactly what his new mystery pitch is, it appears to be a variation of a splitter. Nathan Eovaldi -- whose splitter is one of the best in the league -- said he’s looking forward to seeing how Dunning works the pitch, whatever it may be, into game action going forward.

“At the beginning of Spring Training, I feel like everybody's kind of on their own schedule and Mike [Maddux] has got us all going at the same time, so I haven't been able to watch a lot of bullpens,” Eovaldi said. “[Dane's] been talking to me about it a lot, so to my understanding he's still gonna be throwing his changeup and then -- well I don't know what he's calling it -- but he says that he's got a good feel for it. It's just another weapon that he's going to be able to utilize.”

Despite a spiked pitch or two, Dunning looked good coming out of the gate this spring, delivering a perfect inning with a flyout, groundout and lineout to kick off Cactus League play for the Rangers.

Besides the new pitch, the right-hander is mostly working on pounding the zone and increasing his velocity a tick or two as he works this spring. Unlike some previous springs where he was coming off of injuries or surgeries -- Tommy John in 2019 and hip surgery entering ‘23 -- Dunning entered this year fully healthy and focused on refining his mechanics to put him in the best place to succeed.

“It’s just the same old story for me,” he said. “I’m trying to take up the velo just a tad bit without sacrificing command or extension. I actually felt really good today with the outcome and where my velo sat at. I felt like I was throwing hard and staying through my body.”

Dunning is coming off his best year in the big leagues in 2023, both health wise and on the field. He opened the season in the bullpen, posting a 1.77 ERA over his first eight relief appearances before transitioning back to being a starter after Jacob deGrom’s season ending UCL surgery. He ultimately finished the season with a 3.70 ERA in 35 games (26 starts).

He now enters camp penciled into the Rangers’ rotation to start the season, though he doesn’t exactly see it that way.

“That's just my way of viewing things,” Dunning said. “I like to say like I’ve got to earn my position no matter what. There's a lot of talent in this locker room. There's a lot of guys who are hungry for the same spots. We’ve got a lot of rookies that are gonna be coming up that could be crucial for us for the season.

“We got a lot of guys who are all fighting for that position. I feel like for me personally, the moment I feel secure is when I lose my job. I go into every Spring Training trying to fight for my position. I like to go into the whole offseason and spring with that focus, planning to fight for a spot."