Vulcan changeup
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, the vulcan changeup pitch (or simply vulcan or trekkie) is a type of changeup
; it closely resembles a forkball
and split-finger fastball
. It is a variation of the circle changeup
, and when mastered can be extremely effective. Much like a forkball, the vulcan is gripped between two fingers on the hand, but rather than the middle and index finger as with the forkball or split-finger fastball
, it sits in between the middle and ring fingers to make a v-shape (Vulcan salute
) when releasing to the catcher. It is thrown with fastball arm speed but by pronating
the hand by turning the thumb down, to get good downward movement on it.
The pitch is uncommon in Major League Baseball
. Among the few who throw it are former reliever Randy Tomlin
, reliever Joe Nelson
, and most notably former all-star closer Eric Gagne
, for whom the vulcan changeup was considered one of his best pitches. Ian Kennedy
throws this style of changeup instead of others because he "found it more comfortable and had more movement". Roy Oswalt
adopted this pitch during the 2010 offseason and prefers it over the circle changeup.
Nelson explained his choice for naming the pitch: "It was either going to be Nanu Nanu or the Vulcan. Spock
just seemed like a cooler character than Mork." The pitch has been nicknamed the "trekkie", because of the Vulcan
symbol, from the show Star Trek
, that appears in the grip of the ball.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, the vulcan changeup pitch (or simply vulcan or trekkie) is a type of changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
; it closely resembles a forkball
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
and split-finger fastball
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
. It is a variation of the circle changeup
Circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
, and when mastered can be extremely effective. Much like a forkball, the vulcan is gripped between two fingers on the hand, but rather than the middle and index finger as with the forkball or split-finger fastball
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
, it sits in between the middle and ring fingers to make a v-shape (Vulcan salute
Vulcan salute
The Vulcan salute is a hand gesture consisting of a raised hand, palm forward with the fingers parted between the middle and ring finger, and the thumb extended. Often, the famous line, "Live long and prosper", is said after it. The salute was devised and popularised by Leonard Nimoy, who...
) when releasing to the catcher. It is thrown with fastball arm speed but by pronating
Pronation
In anatomy, pronation is a rotational movement of the forearm at the radioulnar joint, or of the foot at the subtalar and talocalcaneonavicular joints. For the forearm, when standing in the anatomical position, pronation will move the palm of the hand from an anterior-facing position to a...
the hand by turning the thumb down, to get good downward movement on it.
The pitch is uncommon in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Among the few who throw it are former reliever Randy Tomlin
Randy Tomlin
Randy Leon Tomlin is a former left-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who attended Liberty University. Tomlin played from 1990 to 1994 and batted and threw left-handed. He went 30-31 in 94 career starts with 297 career strikeouts...
, reliever Joe Nelson
Joe Nelson
Joseph George Nelson is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He is known mainly for his "Vulcan" change up.-High school:...
, and most notably former all-star closer Eric Gagne
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
, for whom the vulcan changeup was considered one of his best pitches. Ian Kennedy
Ian Kennedy
Ian Patrick Kennedy is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.He is 6' 0" tall and weighs 190 pounds...
throws this style of changeup instead of others because he "found it more comfortable and had more movement". Roy Oswalt
Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
adopted this pitch during the 2010 offseason and prefers it over the circle changeup.
Nelson explained his choice for naming the pitch: "It was either going to be Nanu Nanu or the Vulcan. Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
just seemed like a cooler character than Mork." The pitch has been nicknamed the "trekkie", because of the Vulcan
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
symbol, from the show Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
, that appears in the grip of the ball.