Apr 7, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson (33) pitches during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Wilson is something of a daredevil, as he showed by crazily taking a ride in a stunt plane. He’s also kind of a risk-taker on the pitching mound, as he demonstrated Monday by suddenly whipping out a knuckleball.
Wilson used his knuckler only once in the game, to Jesus Guzman. The result was a ball way outside.
Wilson would later use his curve to get Guzman out. After the game he explained why he suddenly decided to unveil the knuckler.
Turns out it was pure desperation.
“I literally threw him a knuckleball because…I [had] no idea what to throw him here,” Wilson said via MLB.com.
Wilson said he’s been working on the knuckler for awhile but that was the first time he ever used it in a game. “I’ve thrown it in warm-ups a couple times, so I was just determined at some point to filter it in there,” he explained.
Judging by the result, that’s a pitch C.J. might want to keep out of his repertoire, at least until he has a little more feel.
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