SCOTTSDALE — New Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coach Brian Kaplan knows why certain major league pitchers opt for private instructors because he was one.
Kaplan, before spending the past three seasons as the assistant pitching coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, co-founded Cressey Sports Performance, a training facility big leaguers use.
He has seen pitchers find success from different vantage points, and that’s the perspective he’s taken into Diamondbacks camp.
“I know what draws guys to find a pitching coach in the offseason, to find a trainer in the offseason, to put together a throwing program that’s for them,” Kaplan told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Monday.
“They want to know that something is designed for them. I think, look, when you’ve had a lot of success in the game, I think sometimes it can get a little muddy as to what leads to success. You watch an ace or two at the front of the staff have success. You think, OK, maybe that’s how everyone else should have success.
“I think the beauty of being a little newer, at least at this position, is I’ve seen a lot of different versions of what success looks like. I definitely want to take the stance that we’re going to focus on the individual as much as possible.”
Brian Kaplan hopes to help D-backs pitching staff stay healthy
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The Diamondbacks are counting on their pitching to take significant steps forward this season after a subpar, injury-riddled performance in 2024. They have invested heavily in adding veterans Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery and most recently Corbin Burnes to the staff. Rodriguez and Montgomery are looking for bounce-back seasons.
In the offseason, the club moved on from decorated pitching coach Brent Strom, who is now the assistant pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Arizona turned to a coach who never played in MLB, whose playing days were cut short by injuries in college. Kaplan said those injuries shaped his career trajectory.
Assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye told Bickley & Marotta on Monday that Kaplan’s experience on the personal training side was not the only reason why he was hired, but it was a factor.
“Pitching is a very stressful activity and action, so nothing’s ever gonna be perfect,” Kaplan said.
“Educating them on what makes them a little unique or a little different, how they can manage the stress that comes with that, how they can enhance some of the things they do really well already and more so than anything, it’s just the conversations with the strength staff and the medical staff about what they have done to get them here, what has been successful and what we can improve.”
So far in spring training, Arizona’s pitchers have been complimentary of Kaplan, particularly as a communicator.
Burnes started working with Kaplan soon after signing during the offseason to get on the same page.
“His background was a little bit different than most pitching coaches in the big leagues, him being in the private side of it and then getting into organization baseball,” Burnes said on Monday. “He’s got some fresh takes on ideas, and I think a lot of guys have enjoyed working with him.”
“He’s really easy to talk to,” Merrill Kelly said last week. “He’s a good sounding board, wants to know where we’re at, wants to know what we’re thinking. We’ve had some really good conversations.”
It is very early in the process as Kaplan gets to know his pitchers better and they develop rapport.
“That remains to be seen,” Kaplan said about being good at what he does.
The team has pitching depth, but going through another injury gauntlet is tough for any roster to handle. Kaplan won’t prevent every setback, but he has the opportunity to input new strategies to put the staff in the best spot to maintain throughout the marathon.
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