How Adam Ottavino Built a New Pitch
- Aug 19, 2026
- 1:10
- Short
Can data help a pitcher build a new weapon?
Adam Ottavino, former 15-year MLB reliever and current ESPN analyst, explains how detailed pitch data and high-speed video helped him create a cutter-slider and refine his arsenal.
ABOUT THE PODCAST Sports is a game of numbers. Wharton experts Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, Cade Massey, and Adi Wyner team up to tackle the world of sports, from current events to longstanding issues such as: What sports streaks are the most impressive? How do you rank the best players? Can athletes be compared across sports? Moneyball Highlights explains how decision-makers in the game can avoid the common mistakes and embrace the data. Episodes are recorded at the Wharton School.
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Brief Summary
A baseball player discusses using data and technology to improve pitching mechanics and performance.
Key points
- Pitching Breakthrough. In his first year, he fixed his grip and created a new pitch.
