Apr 3, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Daniel Duarte (54) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
John DeRouin is only 25, but he already has a reputation in the industry for using technology to teach pitch shapes to improve performance, according to Michael Lev of the Arizona Daily Star.
Lev broke the news that DeRouin is leaving the University of Arizona, where he was set to be the pitching coach, to join the Mets organization as a minor league pitching coordinator.
“John is like the pitching whisperer,” said Arizona head coach Chip Hale, who coached third base for the Mets in 2010 and 2011.
DeRouin, who was with Arizona since August 2023, helped develop two All-Americans, three first-team all-conference pitchers and four players who were selected in the MLB draft.
Mets Sign Pair of Arms
The Mets inked right-handers Daniel Duarte and Zach Peek to minor-league contracts.
Duarte, 29, last pitched in the majors in 2024 when he threw four innings for the Twins. In 2023, he pitched to a 3.69 ERA in 31 2/3 innings for the Reds and struck out 23. He has thrown 38 1/3 career MLB innings over three seasons.
He is pitching in the Mexican Pacific Winter League this offseason, where he’s tossed 20 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with 16 strikeouts and four walks. He is coming off UCL revision surgery.
Peek, 27, pitched for the Brewers’ High-A and Double-A affiliates this year, posting a combined 3.63 ERA over 69 1/3 innings at the two levels. He struck out 75 and walked 31. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 draft by the Angels out of Winthrop University in South Carolina.
MLB Moves to Level Technological Playing Field
Starting next year, MLB will regulate in-game technology available for use at minor-league stadiums, league and team sources told Eno Sarris of The Athletic. The league felt it wasn’t fair that richer organizations were investing in advancements like high-speed cameras and motion capture technology to gain an edge.
“We are taking this step to ensure that all 30 Clubs are working with the same set of information as they make Baseball Operations decisions,” an MLB spokesperson wrote in a statement, per The Athletic. “Each Club can use the information however they see fit, but it is important that we provide a level playing field on access to information.”
