Phillies' Jhoan Duran Adds Nasty New Offspeed Pitch

Duran's new 89 mph split-change averages 34 inches of drop, adding a new weapon to his arsenal.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 5:57pm

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Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran has added a new split-change pitch to his repertoire, which averages 89 mph with 34 inches of drop. This new offspeed offering complements Duran's high-powered fastball and sinker-splitter hybrid, making him an even more dominant force out of the bullpen as the Phillies aim to win the World Series in 2026.

Why it matters

Duran is a key part of the Phillies' bullpen as they push for a championship, and this new pitch gives him an additional weapon to keep hitters off-balance. The development of Duran's offspeed stuff could help him cement his status as one of the elite closers in baseball.

The details

Duran's new split-change pitch averages around 89 mph and features 34 inches of vertical drop, complementing his high-octane fastball that can reach over 100 mph and his existing sinker-splitter hybrid that averages 97 mph. This added offspeed pitch should make it much more difficult for hitters to time up Duran's arsenal, potentially making him even more dominant as the Phillies' closer.

  • Duran added the new split-change pitch during the offseason leading into the 2026 season.

The players

Jhoan Duran

The Philadelphia Phillies' closer, acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Minnesota Twins in 2025. Duran is known for his high-velocity fastball and splitter-sinker hybrid, and has now added a new split-change pitch to his repertoire.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who are looking to win the World Series in 2026 with their aging core and multiple players hitting free agency after the 2027 season.

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What they’re saying

“The new split-change (classified as a splitter) averages about 89 mph with 34 inches of drop and 13 inches of run.”

— David Adler, MLB.com Writer

What’s next

Duran will look to continue developing his new split-change pitch during spring training and the early part of the 2026 season, with the goal of making it a reliable weapon that can help him dominate hitters and solidify the Phillies' bullpen as they push for a World Series title.

The takeaway

Jhoan Duran's addition of a nasty new split-change pitch gives the Phillies' closer an even more lethal arsenal to work with, potentially elevating him to the upper echelon of MLB relievers. This development could be a key factor in Philadelphia's quest for a championship in 2026.