The Game Has Changed—Starters Now Pitch Like Closers

Where It Started: The Andrew Miller Effect

The shift really took hold during the 2016 World Series.
Terry Francona used Andrew Miller, a high-leverage reliever, for two to three innings at a time—not just in the 9th.
He was dominant. Electric. And he did it by throwing every pitch at max effort.
That approach caught fire—and suddenly, teams started building bullpens around this “super reliever” concept.
The message? More velocity, fewer innings.

And it didn’t stop at the bullpen. It crept into the starting rotation too.

Are you seeing this shift in your own program—from high school to travel ball? How are pitchers adjusting? Drop your thoughts in the video comments.

The New Reality: Throw Hard, Then Sit

Today, most MLB starters are only expected to give five solid innings—six if they’re elite.
The days of pacing yourself and hitting the 8th or 9th inning are mostly gone.
“If you can go five innings and give up three runs, you’ve done your job,” Leo says. “That used to be a below-average start. Now it’s considered great.”
And that’s because velocity is the new currency.
95+ is the expectation—not the exception. And when you throw that hard, you don’t last seven innings. You empty the tank early.

Max Effort Mechanics = Max Risk

To throw 95+ every pitch, you need mechanics that prioritize power, torque, and aggression.
But those mechanics are closer mechanics—designed for short bursts, not for sustained outings.
The result? Starters are now using mechanics once reserved for closers, throwing with closer intensity, and treating every inning like it’s the 9th.

The Pressure Filters Down

What happens at the MLB level never stays there.
College coaches start copying it. Then high school coaches. Then private trainers.
It becomes normalized.
And what was once a major league innovation becomes a youth-level expectation.
That’s where the real danger begins (and we’ll tackle that in Blog #2).

Key Takeaways

✅ Starters are no longer expected to go deep—they’re expected to go hard
✅ The 5-inning, 3-run outing is now a “quality start”
✅ Max effort mechanics are being adopted by starters across the board
✅ The shift started in MLB, but has worked its way down to the amateur level
✅ This change affects how pitchers are developed—and how long they last

How Sore to Soaring Teaches Pitching With Perspective

At Sore to Soaring, we don’t just chase trends—we teach context.
We help athletes and families understand where today’s expectations came from, and how to adapt intelligently.
Our pitchers learn when to go max effort, when to throttle down, and how to manage their body across a full season—not just an inning.

Support our work at: www.SoreToSoaring.org

Disclaimer

The views shared in this article are for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by Lupos Initiative Inc., DBA Sore to Soaring. Always consult a qualified professional before implementing any training, recovery, or medical plan. No affiliation or compensation exists between Sore to Soaring and any for-profit entity mentioned.

To learn more about Dr. Jason Zaremski and UF Health Sports Medicine, visit:
https://ufhealth.org

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