Mariners' Kirby Seeks Secondary Pitch to Reach Next Level

Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman shares how Kirby can unlock more swing-and-miss potential.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby has shown immense potential in his first three MLB seasons, but there may still be another level for him to reach. Mariners co-host Stacy Rost believes Kirby has untapped potential, and Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman explains that finding the right secondary pitch could help Kirby take his game to the next level, similar to how Mariners teammate Logan Gilbert's splitter unlocked more swing-and-miss ability.

Why it matters

Kirby is one of the Mariners' top young pitchers, and unlocking his full potential could be a key to the team's success. The Mariners are looking to build on their recent playoff appearance, and Kirby's development will be crucial to their future.

The details

Kirby has been impressive in his early career, posting a sub-3.53 ERA and sub-4.1% walk rate over his first three seasons. However, he had an inconsistent 2025 season, which could be partly attributed to a delayed start due to a shoulder injury. Shusterman believes Kirby is still searching for the right secondary pitch to complement his elite fastball command and generate more swing-and-miss. He notes that Mariners teammate Logan Gilbert found success with his splitter, and a similar breakthrough pitch could help Kirby take the next step.

  • Kirby debuted with the Mariners in 2022.
  • Kirby was an All-Star in 2023.
  • Kirby missed the first two months of the 2025 season with a right shoulder injury.

The players

George Kirby

A right-handed starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who has shown immense potential in his first three MLB seasons.

Logan Gilbert

A Mariners starting pitcher who found success by developing a splitter as a put-away secondary pitch.

Bryce Miller

Another young Mariners starting pitcher with a diverse pitch mix.

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What they’re saying

“I think with him what's always interesting, and this is true for really all of these pitchers but especially with him and Logan (Gilbert) and Bryce (Miller), just the number of pitches that they throw. You really don't know exactly what is the secondary pitch that is going to help him get to the next level.”

— Jordan Shusterman, Yahoo Sports (Seattle Sports)

“Maybe it is a splitter, maybe it's another breaking ball. We know he's capable of adding a lot of pitches, but the command is always going to be there.”

— Jordan Shusterman, Yahoo Sports (Seattle Sports)

What’s next

Kirby will look to build on his strong start to his MLB career and find the right secondary pitch to unlock more swing-and-miss ability during the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Kirby's development will be crucial for the Mariners as they look to build on their recent playoff appearance. Finding the right secondary pitch to complement his elite fastball command could help Kirby reach another level and become one of the top young pitchers in the game.