The Tampa Bay Rays have a reputation of helping pitchers find the best versions of themselves. This deadline they acquired RHP Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets. Peralta’s been having one of the worst seasons of his career, with a career high 4.99 ERA and career low 22% strikeout rate.
Looking into Peralta’s mix, his velocity is the same as years prior, he’s still getting chase, and his 3.79 xERA is much closer to his career stats. Instead, it looks like a subtle change in his delivery could have changed the shape and effectiveness of his pitches enough to cause the worsened results.
Delivery Changes
The biggest difference between his 2025 with the Brewers and 2026 season with the Mets is his release. Peralta’s arm slot dropped from 38 to 33 degrees and his extension dropped from 81st percentile to close to MLB average.
When breaking it down by pitch type, we can see that every pitch was released about 3-4 inches closer to the mound with a slightly lower release point.
| Fourseamer | Horizontal Release point (ft) | Vertical Release point (ft) | Extension (ft) |
| 2025 | -3.1 | 5.3 | 6.8 |
| 2026 | -3.0 | 5.2 | 6.5 |
| Changeup | Horizontal Release point (ft) | Vertical Release point (ft) | Extension (ft) |
| 2025 | -3.4 | 5.0 | 6.7 |
| 2026 | -3.2 | 4.9 | 6.4 |
| Slider | Horizontal Release point (ft) | Vertical Release point (ft) | Extension (ft) |
| 2025 | -3.3 | 5.1 | 6.8 |
| 2026 | -3.2 | 5.0 | 6.4 |
| Sweeper | Horizontal Release point (ft) | Vertical Release point (ft) | Extension (ft) |
| 2025 | -3.3 | 5.2 | 6.7 |
| 2026 | -3.2 | 5.1 | 6.4 |
| Curveball | Horizontal Release point (ft) | Vertical Release point (ft) | Extension (ft) |
| 2025 | -3.2 | 5.4 | 6.7 |
| 2026 | -3.1 | 5.3 | 6.4 |
While a few inches don’t sound like much, it can make a big difference in the way hitters perceive the pitches, and in the pitches’ movement. In terms of perception, even a slight loss can give hitters more time to identify the pitch type and/or decide whether they want to commit to a swing. Extension also allows for velocity to play up. So even though Peralta’s velocity remains consistent with 2025, the loss of extension isn’t allowing it to play up and overwhelm hitters like in years past.
In terms of movement, every pitch was affected by the updated slot and release point. The fourseamer and changeup gained horizontal movement, while his curveball lost movement in both directions. The slider gained depth but lost sweep and the sweeper lost depth but gained sweep.
These changes may be impacting how his pitches play off each other. Peralta has historically relied on his fastball riding up in the zone with his secondaries working to the lower half. When multiple pitch shapes change like this, the way they interact also changes.
Against Right-Handed Hitters
The biggest impact of his mechanical changes has showed up against right-handed hitters. His changeup went from being one of his best weapons to his least effective, which forced him to change his mix mid-season.
Starting off, here is how he altered the usage of his pitches compared to 2025:
His changeup was an extremely effective pitch for him in 2025 and shared an elite +9 run value with his fourseamer. This season, the changeup’s whiff rate against right-handed hitters has been cut in half, from 42% in 2025 down to 22% this season, while his zone contact rate is up 5% from last year and 18% from 2024.
Peralta is trying to throwing the changeup to the same locations on the lower edge and inner edge of the zone. However, it is landing in zone less and getting chased out of zone less. One possible explanation is that hitters are getting a better read on the pitch due to his mechanical adjustments and change in the movement profile (making it less platoon neutral). Additionally, the added horizontal movement is making it harder for him to hit that inner edge and its often landing too far in as a result.
The fourseamer, however, has remained a strong pitch in terms of results. In response to the changeup not playing as well, Peralta started leaning more on the fourseamer and sweeper.
While it is common for mixes to vary a bit game to game, there is a clear point in June where the sweeper became more utilized.
The sweeper gets average results against righties in terms of whiff and zone contact rate. However, it has done a good job of limiting hard contact and barrels. Since the sweeper moves away from right-handed hitters it’s become a more effective weapon against the same hand than the changeup that now has increased horizontal fade.
Against Left-Handed Hitters
Against left-handed hitters, Peralta relies on his fourseamer, changeup, and curveball and his usage is similar to 2025:
When looking at Peralta’s results against left-handed hitters, the changeup has become a more effective pitch. It has been getting more chase and has generated much worse contact against (fewer barrels and low hard-hit rate) compared to 2025.
This makes sense because the increased horizontal movement allows the pitch to move further away from left-handed hitters. It has allowed for more separation with the fourseamer.
While its great that the changeup is performing better against left-handed hitters, his overall results against them are still worse than 2025. His fourseamer and curveball are generating more hard contact.
The increased hard contact can also be traced back to the mechanical adjustments and pitch movement. The fourseamer is now getting more run and less ride. Peralta throws his fourseamer to the top of the zone, but this movement profile makes it harder for him to miss bats at that location where you typically want more ride.
The curveball lost movement in both directions – depth and sweep. Peralta tries to get the pitch to the lower half of the zone but it often misses middle, leading to worse results.
What Might the Rays Do to Help Peralta?
What makes Peralta such an interesting addition to the Rays is that his struggles this season aren’t coming from reduced velocity or declining stuff. Instead, his mechanics were adjusted slightly enough to change the characteristics of his entire mix. Those changes affected his movement profiles and effectiveness of his pitches, leading Peralta to making mid-season adjustments.
If possible, the Rays may try to have Peralta adjust his mechanics to be more in line with previous seasons. That way, he could start taking advantage of his extension and deception in his pitch movement once again. Additionally, the Rays specialize in changeups and have helped pitchers develop dominant changeups for years. I wouldn’t be surprised if they work with Peralta to optimize that pitch.
With all of these moving parts, there is a lot of low hanging fruit for the Rays to problem-solve. And Peralta isn’t the Rays’ typical lesser-know pitcher project, he is a former all-star. Making these adjustments could allow Peralta to get back on track and become a strong presence in the Rays’ rotation as we head closer to playoffs.