Future Redbirds

(Image from Springfield-News Leader)

This past Wednesday I got a chance talk to P.J. Walters. Most of you reading this know Walters really dominated two levels of A ball before being called up to pitch for Springfield towards the end of July. He’s not a real hard thrower, throwing a fastball that reaches 87 but his success is all about location, location, location. Since coming up to AA, he’s struggled a bit with that location, his manager saying he needs to start pitching off of his fastball more after his start last night, where he struck out 6 batters in 5 innings while allowing 3 runs.

I see that Steve Kittrell was your manager at South Alabama. I understand he isn’t one for pitch counts and you threw a lot of pitches during your time there as the team’s ace. Contrast that with the whole piggyback system you were a part of for the QC. Was that a bit of a shock going from one side of the spectrum to the other?

It was different. Coach Kitrell did count the pitches and keep a close eye on it, and he kept a quicker hook on me more my freshman and sophomore, more then he did my junior year obviously. Mostly due to the fact that he got to know me better. And he kept an eye on the velocity as the game went on to make sure I was staying healthy. Once I did come over (to the pros) it was a little different that I had my pitch count and when I hit it I was basically done.

My freshman year of college I had some relief appearances. Last summer I had some relief appearances. So I was kinda used to coming out of the bullpen where as some starting pitchers had never done the relief thing so it was different for some of us. My pitch count ran higher then some in college, but Coach Kitrell did keep a close eye on it and he knew what each pitcher was able to do.

I read an article at the P-D where you had only walked something crazy like 3-6 batters all season your senior year in high school.

I walked 7 as a junior and 4 as a senior.

That’s some excellent control. And I noticed you’ve carried that over to college and the pros. How did you develop that?

My high school coach was big on mechanics and being able to repeat your delivery and being able to throw strikes. And I’ve always believed it’s easier for the guys behind you to get them out if you put it in play. Make them put it play, if they get to first, they get to first. But there are 7 guys behind you to catch it, that’s what they are there for.

The Cardinals are pretty strong as a whole on that “pitch-to-contact” philosophy, is that something you’ve heard preached throughout the different levels at the minors?

To me it’s never been anything out of the ordinary. I always have been taught to throw it up there, make good pitches. If you can throw a 2 seam fastball at the part of the plate where you want them to hit it, odds are they aren’t going to be able to hit it where they want to.

For someone who makes it their aim to pitch to contact, you sure have struck out a lot of batters this year from someone as I understand doesn’t throw overly hard, what would you say is helping you get all those K’s?

Just mixing pitches. They can’t sit on one pitch so I can throw them all and if I can get ahead you can make them look for what you want to, and then you have a chance to strike them out.

Tell me about your repertoire, what kind of pitches do you throw?

Fastball, change up, curveball, and a slider.

I understand you get some different kind of movement on your change up. I’ve read in places it moves like a screwball.

That’s a pitch my high school pitch taught me, and I guess it’s just the way it rolls of my fingers. I think it’s been a good pitch mainly because in high school I learned to locate it. I usually can throw it in a good spot. You can throw a good curve and they are still gonna hit it if you don’t put it where you want to, so it’s all about location.

Are there specific parts of your repertoire that have been more difficult to translate to AA, maybe a certain pitch that fooled class a hitters but not AA guys?

They won’t chase the pitches off the plate as much, you just have to stay within that 17 inches in the plate, maybe get them to chase a pitch a pitch down, but they pretty much don’t chase one away. Sometimes I’ll try and throw a fastball in if I get them looking away.

You really shot through the system fast this year. You started off at the Quad Cities and moved to Palm Beach, putting up great numbers at each stops. Now you find yourself in AA. What would you attribute to your rapid rise?

Just locating, being able to throw strikes. Things kinda worked out to where I was able to move as quick as I have. Pitching to contact and relying on my defense. Always trying to get ahead. Throwing strikes. That’s what it’s all about.

Best of luck to you P.J., we all hope to see you have a long career in St. Louis and we hope to see you soon.

Me too.