How Verlander made immediate impact at Giants spring training originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SCOTTSDALE — On a sun-drenched morning early in camp, Hayden Birdsong stepped onto a bullpen mound at Scottsdale Stadium and found himself surrounded by the usual array of teammates, coaches, front office members and analysts. But the most vocal observer was the fellow right-hander who is preparing for his 20th season, the one who might be the last to ever win 300 games in the big leagues.
Justin Verlander stood directly behind Birdsong and shouted encouragement as he watched. He occasionally looked down at an iPad, which was offering real time feedback on an adjustment that had been suggested to Birdsong.
“I was joking with Justin that I’m going to make him the assistant pitching coach, too,” pitching coach J.P. Martinez said. “It’s not the same salary, though.”
The Giants signed the future Hall of Famer to a one-year, $15 million contract in January, and as Verlander was introduced to the media, president of baseball operations Buster Posey made it clear that the overriding reason for the deal was to have Verlander near the top of their rotation. A secondary effect, Posey hoped, would be felt every day, even if Verlander wasn’t always aware of it.
Posey knew that Birdsong, Kyle Harrison, Landen Roupp and others could benefit just from watching Verlander go about his business all season. But through his first two weeks in Scottsdale, Verlander has proven to be much more than just someone to quietly follow from afar. He has taken on a mentorship role with young pitchers from day one while also organizing off-field activities. When Verlander turned 42 last week, about a third of the spring roster took part in a laser tag tournament.
Verlander has so much to offer that even veterans like Robbie Ray and Logan Webb have found themselves listening for advice at the breakfast table or as they hang out in the clubhouse. But it’s the younger pitchers like Birdsong who should really benefit, and on Sunday, the second-year starter embraced a change that Verlander helped him make.
Birdsong pitched from the first base side of the rubber as a rookie, but Martinez thought he could improve his slider by moving to the third base side. Before that bullpen session, Verlander asked Martinez about Birdsong’s foot placement. The belief was that Birdsong could positively impact the vertical break on his slider by giving hitters a different look.
“He had…