When news spread Thursday that Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was throwing changeups during batting practice, it generated some buzz before manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated it probably wouldn't be a pitch that makes it into Kimbrel's in-season repertoire.
It seems Kimbrel indicated as much Friday, saying throwing the changeup in spring training offers him a way to improve his mechanics and avoid putting too much early strain on his arm with an overabundance of curveballs.
"It does help me with extension and getting through my pitches," Kimbrel said, per MLB.com. "That's really the main reason I throw it. Plus, I don't want to go out there and flip off breaking balls over and over again until my arm is ready to do it. So why not throw a changeup?"