Recently acquired reliever Nick Sandlin brings whiffs to the Blue Jays bullpen

Sandlin’s arsenal

The former second-round pick does not have overpowering stuff, instead relying on a mix of pitches that keep hitters off balance. His fastball sits in the low 90’s while also throwing a slider, sinker, and splitter. He threw his slider more than any other pitch in 2024, 35% of the time. The fastball (30%) and split (27%) had similar usage, while his sinker was a distant fourth offering (9%). He operates from a lower arm slot delivery that adds deception to his pitches.

Sandlin’s Baseball Savant page paints a picture of what kind of pitcher he is. His fastball run value was in the 4th percentile, while his off-speed run value was in the 97th percentile and one of the best in the league.

Since he has below-average velocity, the importance of throwing his off-speed pitches for strikes is important for his success. He was in the 1st percentile in hard-hit rate, as hitters routinely teed off on his fastball when it was thrown over the plate. This puts added emphasis on him throwing strikes and remaining ahead of the count, where he then becomes less predictable.

One of the more exciting things for the Jays should be the fact that he was in the 95th percentile in whiff rate last year, despite struggling in some other areas. Unless he can add a tick or two onto his fastball, we might see the former Guardian rely even more on his off-speed pitches moving forward.

What role will he have in 2025?

The Blue Jays are just getting started on their offseason, leaving their bullpen construction (and team in general) up in the air at the present moment. It would be surprising if the team acquired Sandlin with plans to insert him into a high-leverage role, but there’s a chance that they can unlock more potential for him going forward.

With the volatility of relief pitching, it’s pretty remarkable that the five-foot-eleven right-hander has completed four straight seasons with an ERA under 4.00 while avoiding much attention. Since the Guardians bullpen was loaded last season, Sandlin was simply a part of the mix and not relied on in high-leverage spots.

Acquiring several more arms like Sandlin will be important for the Jays to rebuild their bullpen after the disaster that was 2024. Even if he settles into a middle relief role with the Jays, his consistency will be a welcome sight for this team.