Pirates' Drew Hutchison: Altered delivery in store

The Pirates are working to improve Hutchison's delivery, a move which the team believes would add velocity to the right-hander's fastball, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Analysis:

Hutchison is working on a more direct stride to home plate, something he did successfully early in his career with Toronto. "We're not out of the woods yet, but we're in a really good spot and we're building," pitching coach Ray Searage said. "He feels comfortable. It puts his arm in the best position to maximize his velocity (92.0 mph avg). With that adjustment to his delivery, he's able to get the fastball down and away instead of over the middle of the plate." GM Neal Huntington also commented that Hutchison is one of two pitchers in the early lead for the fifth starter's spot. "A couple of guys are probably ahead of others - Hutchison, in terms of the experience he has; Tyler Glasnow, in terms of the ceiling he has," Huntington noted.