Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2419: TJ and TK in Triple-A

12 snips
Dec 26, 2025
Guest
Duncan Davitt
Guest
Declan Cronin
In this lively discussion, former MLB pitcher Declan Cronin shares the highs and lows of his career, from a painful hip injury to the reality of Tommy John surgery. He candidly talks about the mental challenges during rehab and the pressures of competing with fellow players. Joining him is Duncan Davitt, a White Sox prospect who juggles pitching at Triple-A and writing sports articles. He elaborates on his unique pitching style, the importance of local media, and his exciting journey towards a big league call-up.
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ANECDOTE

Hip Drill That Triggered A Cascade

  • Declan Cronin described how a spring-training hip drill strained deep left-hip rotators and started a long rehab saga.
  • He tried throwing through it, made rehab outings, then felt pain return and never fully regained pre-injury mechanics.
INSIGHT

Compensation Patterns Can Break Pitching

  • Declan and Miami staff observed compensatory movement patterns after low-intensity throwing changed his mechanics.
  • Those compensations reduced pitch shape and created upper-body strain that later contributed to elbow failure.
ANECDOTE

The One Pitch That Ended It

  • Declan recalled a single pitch where he felt his elbow "space expand" and a painful pop at release.
  • He immediately recognized it as a UCL tear and later confirmed the ligament was shredded.
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