Gausman tweaking delivery amid balk crackdown: 'Just sucks' to be singled out

MLB plans to crack down on pitchers who flout balk rules, with a particular aim to penalize hurlers with bouncing or rolling deliveries.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman - whose delivery features a toe tap that sometimes prevents him from coming to a complete stop - will be one of the pitchers forced to comply with the league's ramped-up enforcement of a pre-existing rule.

"It's something I'll have to change, obviously," the right-hander said Thursday at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. "The good thing is we have six weeks to mess with my delivery and figure out what's going to be new and comfortable."

Gausman was named as one of the pitchers who will be expected to tweak their deliveries when ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported the enforcement change. The list also included the Houston Astros' Luis Garcia, Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen, and Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger.

"(Umpires) will definitely be watching me a little bit closer than normal," Gausman said, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. He added: "It just sucks when you're one of the guys that's on the list."

Gausman was called for two balks last year - tied with New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for most by a starter in the American League. One instance during a September game against the Baltimore Orioles led to a heated exchange with umpire Jeff Nelson.

In addition to cracking down on balks, the league is introducing several new rules for the 2023 campaign that will undoubtedly lead to some errors by pitchers, including a pitch clock and a maximum of two pickoff attempts per at-bat.

Gausman, 32, is entering his second season with the Blue Jays after signing a five-year, $110-million contract with Toronto last winter. The former All-Star posted a 3.35 ERA and an AL-leading 2.38 FIP over 174 2/3 innings in 2022.