Brian Johnson is doing away with his cutter in favor of a slider, a pitch he threw in college at Florida, the Providence Journal reports. "The first day I threw [the slider] live to hitters with [Blake] Swihart, he said, 'That's good. That's 100 times bet

Johnson is doing away with his cutter in favor of a slider, a pitch he threw in college at Florida, the Providence Journal reports. "The first day I threw [the slider] live to hitters with [Blake] Swihart, he said, 'That's good. That's 100 times better than the cutter. I could even see you throwing it much more confidently,'" Johnson said. "When someone sees it and that's the first time they've caught you since early last year, that's reassuring."

Analysis:

Aside from replacing his cutter, Johnson's main goal is to make it through 2016 spring training healthy after suffering nerve irritation in his left elbow last August. So far, the managerial staff is pleased where Johnson stands at this stage of camp. "Our goal for Brian is to get through spring training, go through a normal progression in getting stretched out with no ill effects, and we're well into that right now," manager John Farrell said. "The velocity may not be what it was last year at this time, still his arm is working much more clean and free."