D-Backs pitcher discusses using humidor-stored baseballs

By Mark Carlisle

Independent Newsmedia

SCOTTSDALE — Chase Field will store balls in a humidor this year, a change that is expected to shorten fly ball distance and improve pitchers grip. The team is considering using humidor-stored balls later in the spring, so their pitchers can get a feel for them.

Taijuan Walker, who made his 2018 spring training debut Monday, pitched his first season with the D-Backs last year, and while he put forth the best and most consistent numbers of his career, other numbers suggest the dry Arizona air hurt him.

His home-run-to-fly-ball ratio was more than twice as high at Chase Field than it was on the road, according to FanGraphs, and hitters had hard contact against him at a rate of 36.6 percent at home compared to 29.9 percent away. Those numbers were far worse against left-handed hitters at home.

Walker has also talked about struggling to grip his curveball at Chase Field, and the numbers show the pitch wasn’t as effective as it was on the road.

However, Walker wasn’t sure how much difference humidor-stored balls would make for him.

"Honestly, I don’t know anything about it. I kind of just want them to hand me a ball to see if I even know the difference, to be honest," Walker said. "That’s actually what probably will happen, just tell them, 'Hey, give me a ball. Let me see if I can feel the difference, and go from there I guess.'"