With tips from a Dodgers ace, Jefferies focused on consistency

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- They say consistency is the key to a lot of things in life. That’s what Daulton Jefferies is seeking to master this spring as he gears up for what is expected to be his first full season as a big leaguer.

During his short time in the Majors in 2021, Jefferies, Oakland’s No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was utilized in a swingman role, with most of his outings coming as a reliever. His work was solid as he posted a 3.60 ERA over 15 innings pitched. Now entering a season in which he’ll likely move into the starting rotation, though, the 26-year-old right-hander wants to ensure he can be a dependable option for A’s manager Mark Kotsay every fifth day.

“I didn’t mind coming out of the bullpen. I thought it was fun. But starting is fun, too,” Jefferies said. “It makes me want to be even more consistent and try to carry myself like a big leaguer and believe that I am a big leaguer.”

Making his second Cactus League outing for the A’s in Saturday’s 9-2 loss to the Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark, Jefferies struck out three batters and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits over three innings. What stood out the most was the heavy usage of his sinker, which sat between 94-96 mph and was thrown for 36 of his 54 total pitches. This was by design.

During the lockout, Jefferies remained in Arizona, training at Push Performance in Tempe. Working out alongside big league pitchers including Sean Doolittle and Lance Lynn, Jefferies soaked in as much as he could from his more established counterparts. The biggest takeaway from the experience, however, came from the words of wisdom he received from Dodgers ace Walker Buehler.

“I was talking to Buehler and he was talking about how [Clayton] Kershaw throws 50 sliders, but 48 of them are ‘the’ slider,” said Jefferies. “So out of 50 sinkers or changeups, I want to have as consistent stuff as possible. How I do that is repetition.”

You could classify plenty of his sinkers thrown on Saturday as ‘the’ sinker, including one at 94 mph that froze up Cleveland star José Ramírez for a called strike three to end the first inning.

That repetition is what Jefferies said will lead to confidence, as he looks to carry over the success he’s achieved at each level of the Minor Leagues since the A’s selected him in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Also helping his case is a return to full health after a flexor strain cut his season short in 2021.

“I feel like everything is pretty consistent,” Jefferies said. “Velo is there. I’m ramping up pretty well. I can go out there and pitch with confidence knowing that my arm is going to feel good. That hadn’t been the case in 2018 and '19. Now I can just go out and have fun.”

Jefferies is likely to slot in somewhere in the back half of the rotation. With Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas and Cole Irvin ahead of him on the staff, he’ll continue to have helpful resources available as he prepares to navigate his first season as a starter.

“There’s three good core guys with Manaea, Montas and Irvin that I can learn from and bounce ideas off of,” Jefferies said. “Just trying to take advantage of opportunities.”

UP NEXT
Montas is set to make his second Cactus League start on Sunday against the Mariners at Hohokam Stadium at 1:05 p.m. PT. That matchup could possibly feature the spring debut of Stephen Vogt, an Oakland fan favorite who was signed to a one-year deal by the club earlier this week.