A changeup is an off-speed pitch that is frequently used to pair off a pitchers fastball. It is one of the slowest pitches thrown in baseball, and it is predicated on deception. The pitcher will release a changeup along the same trajectory as their fastball, but at a significantly slower velocity. The goal of a changeup is to make the hitter think a fastball is coming, so their timing will be thrown off by the slower pitch. A good changeup will cause a hitter to start their swing well before the pitch arrives, resulting in either a swing and miss or very weak contact. The changeup is a common off-speed pitch, and almost every starting pitcher owns a changeup as part of their arsenal.
There are several different grips that pitchers use for a changeup, but the common theme is that the ball rests farther back in the hand -- even, in some cases, in the palm. The most common changeup grip is the "circle change," where the pitchers thumb and index finger form a circle and the middle and ring fingers lay across the seams of the ball. By pronating the wrist upon release, the pitcher can make the pitch break in the same direction as a screwball. There are several variations of changeups, which are generated by using different grips on the ball during the release of the pitch. Some changeups may have lethal movement that fades arm side, while others are more comparable to a “slower fastball” with very little movement.
