Aaron Ashby’s unusual flexibility—not raw arm strength or pitch movement alone—is the key to his deceptive delivery. Added core and leg strength has helped the Brewers left-hander stay on line and protect his body, while a subtle increase in tilt this postseason is making his pitches play differently: his sinker is getting more carry, and his changeup is separating more sharply from it.

By the Numbers
  • His changeup is averaging 93 mph.
  • It has 5–6 mph of velocity separation from his sinker.
  • The changeup has 6 inches of vertical and 2 inches of horizontal separation from the sinker.
  • Ashby’s listed arm angle is around 54° on average this season.
Yes, But

Ashby’s flexibility enables the contorted motion that makes his pitches hard to read, but strength remains important: improved core and leg strength has helped him maintain better alignment and address injury risk. His delivery is unconventional, and the mechanical changes alter how his pitches move; they don’t turn his sinker into a four-seam rising fastball.

Bottom Line

Ashby’s postseason surge is a product of unusual mobility supported by smart conditioning—and a small mechanical adjustment that has made an already deceptive arsenal more effective against hitters on both sides of the plate.