Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson is equipped with a filthy slider.
His best secondary pitch, even better than his revered changeup, has averaged a 3,042 rpm spin rate through the first five games of his MLB career, helping him to 28 strikeouts (with six walks) in 24⅔ innings.
Two weapons — his slider and his fastball — guided him to a career-high nine strikeouts in Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. The 23-year-old allowed one run on four hits and one walk across 5⅓ innings against an American League Central foe in front of 24,203 fans at Comerica Park.
“Since the start of this year, I’ve been throwing (the slider) hard, and that’s the biggest thing,” Olson said. “Picking up that velocity, I think I’m throwing it about four or five miles an hour harder than I did last year. I think that’s been the biggest thing this year.”
The high-spin slider isn’t new.
Olson’s slider averaged 2,967 rpm and 84.5 mph in 10 starts with Triple-A Toledo earlier this season, but in those outings, he threw more changeups (24.7% of 792 pitches) than sliders (20.1%) as his primary secondary pitch. He posted a 6.38 ERA with 22 walks and 47 strikeouts across 36⅔ innings.
In 2022, Olson’s slider averaged 2,900 rpm and 83.9 mph with Double-A Erie. In 2023, his slider has averaged 3,042 rpm and 84.5 mph with the Tigers.
There has been an increase in both velocity and spin rate.
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“Honestly, last year, when I moved to the third-base side of the rubber, it kind of clicked,” Olson said. “I gained like 200, 300 rpm for whatever reason.”
With the Tigers, Olson has thrown more sliders (32.9% of 441 pitches) than changeups (14.3%). He is throwing a secondary pitch — his slider — more often than his four-seam fastball for the first time in his professional career.
His slider has maxed out at 3,247 rpm this season.
“The threat of the secondary pitch is helping him,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “The word is getting out, and guys see numbers. 3,000 is a big number. It gives him a little bit of room for error with the fastball, but he’s still got to be careful.”
Adjusting his pitch mix to limit his fastball usage, along with switching his primary secondary pitch, has allowed him to survive and thrive at the highest level. His slider has a whopping 40% swing-and-miss rate.
In the first inning Saturday, Olson worked quickly and registered three outs with seven fastballs.
“He’s going to have to execute at a high degree for that success to continue,” Hinch continued, discussing Olson’s fastball. “He got into the game with a boatload of fastballs, but that’s not as sustainable as it looks.”
His success, as always, is determined by the command of his 95 mph fastball.
When Olson can command his fastball, he has the chance to dominate any lineup in the big leagues. When he can’t command his fastball, he becomes susceptible to a brutal beatdown.
“It’s just the command,” Olson said. “If I put the pitch where I want it, there’s not much they can do with it. I’ve learned not to overthrow that pitch, and as I get later into outings, just trusting that I can stick it.”
Facing the Twins, Olson spent most of his 88-pitch start painting fastballs on the corners and edges of the strike zone. His fastball generated 11 of his 19 called strikes, which set up his slider to generate 11 of his 13 whiffs.
In the third inning, Ryan Jeffers hit a two-strike fastball for a single. Olson responded by striking out Michael A. Taylor (swinging, 85.1 mph slider), Edouard Julien (swinging, 85.2 mph slider) and Carlos Correa (called strike, 96 mph fastball).
In the fifth inning, Royce Lewis hit a first-pitch sinker for a single. Once again, Olson responded with three consecutive strikeouts, sending down Joey Gallo (swinging, 85.7 mph slider), Jeffers (called strike, 95.5 mph fastball) and Taylor (swinging, 95.5 mph fastball).
“If I’m surprised by anything, it’s his demeanor,” Hinch said. “He’s just pretty calm, cool and does his thing. He has a ton of confidence in his slider, which he should, and I think he has enough confidence in his fastball. There’s not a lot of panic when he gets into different counts.”
But Olson’s brilliant outing ended in the sixth inning, after falling behind 3-0 in the count to Correa. He got a called strike with an up-and-in fastball for a 3-1 count, then left the next fastball over the middle of the plate near the top of the strike zone.
Correa punished the poorly located fastball for a 425-foot solo home run to left-center field.
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Still, Olson turned in the best performance of his MLB career to secure the first win of his MLB career. And he walked off the mound to a standing ovation from the fans at Comerica Park.
“I definitely heard it,” said Olson, who has a 4.74 ERA in five games (four starts). “I was thinking about the pitch to Correa, but I heard the crowd, and it was awesome. I appreciate that.”
Pitching plan vs. Rangers
After Sunday’s series finale, the Tigers travel for a four-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, from Monday through Thursday, as part of a seven-game road trip.
Only two starting pitchers are locked in: left-hander Matthew Boyd on Monday and left-hander Joey Wentz on Wednesday. Right-hander Matt Manning (right foot fracture) will “most likely” return from the injured list and start Tuesday or Thursday.
“He’s most likely going to pitch in the Texas series,” Hinch said of Manning. “I’m not sure what game he’s going to pitch as I stand here this minute. But that placement impacts Reese.”
Manning pitched Thursday for Triple-A Toledo to complete his rehab assignment, so depending on when he takes the mound against the Rangers, he would be pitching on four days of rest Tuesday and six days of rest Thursday.
If Manning pitches Tuesday, Olson could start Thursday against the Rangers on four days of rest. If Manning pitches Thursday, the Tigers will employ a bullpen-only game Tuesday, meaning Olson would start Friday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on five days of rest.
“Maybe, I guess is the right answer,” Hinch said of giving Olson an extra day of rest. “He is coming off a couple of high-volume outings for him, and quite honestly, we’re trying to figure out Matt Manning and where he’s going to fit in.”
When the Tigers activate Manning, a member of the bullpen will need to be optioned to Triple-A Toledo.
More on Eduardo Rodriguez
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (left index finger pulley rupture) completed a 50-pitch live batting practice session Saturday. The 30-year-old could soon advance into a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo.
Hinch said Rodriguez won’t travel with the Tigers for the four-game series against the Rangers due to a “personal situation.”
“I think we’ll have a plan over the next 24 hours on what’s next for him,” Hinch said. “All signs are positive. I’m encouraged to get to the next step and get him, hopefully, some action.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.