Emerson Hancock Found His Release, and the Mariners' Rotation Just Got a Lot Scarier

Emerson Hancock walked into pitching coach Pete Woodworth's office early in the offseason with two words that changed everything: "I'm done." Not done with baseball. Done being the guy you call when someone gets hurt. Done being expendable. "I don't want to be that guy anymore. I want to be a guy," Hancock told him. Fast forward to mid-April, and the 26-year-old right-hander isn't just a guy anymore. He's one of the best guys in baseball.

From Yo-Yo to Ace Material

The transformation has been stunning. After three seasons bouncing between Triple-A Tacoma and Seattle, settling into a No. 6 starter role with a 4.81 ERA over his first 37 big-league appearances, Hancock has completely flipped the script. Through his first four starts this season, he's posted a 2.28 ERA over 23 and two-thirds innings. His strikeout rate is the best of his career at 9.51 per nine innings, paired with a walk rate of just 1.52 per nine. Among all MLB starters, he ranks in the 98th percentile in pitching run value, 98th percentile in fastball run value, and 86th percentile in breaking ball run value, according to Statcast.

"Confidence is oozing out of him right now," Woodworth said. And there's a reason for that confidence. Hancock has found something both mental and physical that's clicking.

The Arm Slot That Changed Everything

The most obvious change is the physical one. No right-handed starting pitcher in MLB releases the baseball at a lower arm slot than Hancock. In 2024, he was throwing at 27 degrees. This season, he's dropped his release point to 13.2 degrees, becoming essentially a sidearmer. Only Chris Sale, throwing at 10.6 degrees, has a lower delivery among MLB starters.

The idea came from watching Sale pitch against Seattle last September. Hancock noticed Sale's extreme stance on the rubber and cross-body delivery, and wondered if he could apply something similar from the other side. He started experimenting immediately, lowering his arm slot and standing far to the first-base side. It worked.

The Mental Release That Matters Most

But there's something less obvious that might matter more. "Mentally, I've gotten in a lot better space," Hancock acknowledged. Woodworth put it this way: "It does take some guys a while to figure out who they are and to not give a damn anymore about what other people think."

Hancock learned he can only control the process. "It's just about the process of throwing really good pitches," he said. "It could go your way; it could go the other way. It's just a matter of staying focused and doing that consistently." Everything is better for him now, from his mindset on the mound to his home life as a new father.

The Mariners suddenly have a legitimate ace in their rotation. That's a problem worth having.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.