Lance McCullers Jr. Discusses Rehab Start with Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Rehab Start Performance

• 🚀 Lance McCullers Jr. completed two innings in his rehab start with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, feeling strong and healthy throughout.
• 💡 The primary goal of these rehab games is to enter healthy and leave healthy, a goal accomplished during this outing.
• 🎯 While overall performance was good, McCullers noted a slight timing and pace issue when pitching from the stretch in the second inning.

Pitch Development and Focus

• ⚾ A key focus during this rehab period, including this start, has been working on the changeup, determining its effectiveness both in and out of the zone.
• 💨 The four-seam fastball felt particularly good, especially out of the windup in the first inning, with good location and finish.
• ⚠️ McCullers identified getting too quick in the stretch as a primary issue, leading to yanking pitches, especially when men were on base for the first time in a long while.

Health and Recovery Milestones

• 🗓️ The outing was pre-planned for two innings, but McCullers felt capable of pitching a third, indicating positive progress.
• ⏳ He noted that it has been 29 months since he last pitched in a similar game atmosphere with men on base, highlighting the significance of this step.
• 📈 The focus is on building up innings and pitch count gradually, with the next step likely being a three-inning outing.

Pitching Mechanics and Tempo

• 🔧 McCullers has been working on an arm swing change rather than an arm angle change, which has become a normal, non-conscious part of his delivery after months of practice.
• 🧘 He aims to be more deliberate out of the stretch, focusing on syncing his body and not rushing through pitches.
• 🗣️ Coaches noted his tempo was too fast, prompting him to reset and improve his rhythm, which led to better results in the latter part of his outing.

Future Outlook and Goals

• 🌟 The ultimate goal is to return to pitching for the Houston Astros and contribute to the team's success.
• bullpen sessions will be crucial for working on specific aspects, particularly pitching out of the stretch, to prepare for game situations.
• 💪 Health remains the paramount concern, with the progression of innings and overall physical well-being being the main objectives of the rehab process.