J.T. Ginn Leans into Windup
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Feb. 23) — Right-hander J.T. Ginn’s first spring outing of 2026 with the Athletics wasn’t another run-of-the-mill early spring tune-up. It was the first real look at a delivery and pitch mix he’s been building toward all offseason.
Ginn went back to working from a full windup in Monday’s appearance against the San Francisco Giants. The change, he said, grew out of conversations with pitching coach Scott Emerson and is designed to help him get into a rhythm earlier in games. “Me and Emo talked about it. It helps me get into a rhythm early and find that athleticism,” Ginn said, “instead of starting out in the stretch and being there the whole game.”
Ginn explained that starting from the windup, rather than living in the stretch for an entire outing, helps him feel more like an athlete on the mound. The extra movement and flow give him a chance to sync up his body and timing before he releases the ball, something he believes is key to him being at his best.
He is not new to the windup. Ginn used it in college and has used versions of it throughout his pro career, including a modified look before 2025. Last year was his first season throwing exclusively out of the stretch, and this spring he’s intent on leaning into the windup again, using it as the foundation for everything else he’s trying to do.
Why J.T. Ginn Is Committing to the Windup
Ginn’s renewed commitment to the windup is about more than aesthetics. For him, it’s the delivery that best matches how he naturally throws the ball.
Working from the windup allows him to build momentum through his motion, which he believes helps him repeat his mechanics and carry a consistent tempo throughout an outing. Instead of simplifying to the stretch for the sake of quickness, Ginn is choosing the option that lets him feel the most athletic. “I think I’m at my best when I feel athletic in my throw,” he said.
By leaning into the windup again this spring, Ginn is betting that a more natural, athletic delivery can support the command gains he’s chasing. It’s the delivery he wants as the base for his entire approach on the mound.
Offseason Pitching Adjustments: Cutter, Changeup, and Four-Seamer
The delivery tweak is only part of the story. J.T. Ginn spent the offseason refining his arsenal, with an emphasis on command and zone presence.
“The biggest thing for us was, going into the offseason, working on the command of the cutter and the changeup. Then (we added) the four-seam,” Ginn said. “The big thing for me is getting in the zone more. I think the four-seam will help me do that.”
He added that he’s also working on refining the cutter and change-up to get those pitches “in the zone a lot more.” He has focused heavily on tightening the location of his cutter and changeup so he can use them more confidently in any count. On top of that, the four-seam fastball will give hitters a different look, especially at the top of the zone.
For Ginn, the common goal behind those adjustments is simple: live in the zone more consistently. A sharper cutter and changeup, paired with a true four-seamer, give him multiple looks he can trust around the plate rather than relying on just one or two offerings. It’s all aimed at creating more competitive pitches more often and turning his revamped windup into a platform for a deeper, more reliable mix.
How J.T. Ginn Fared against the Giants
Ginn felt some of that offseason work begin to show up in game action Monday. The results were there as well. In his two innings, he struck out the side in the first and tossed a 1-2-3 second. Each batter in the second grounded to short. Additionally, one of the three he struck out was Luis Arraez. In 2025, Arraez only struck out 21 times in 675 plate appearances (3.1%) — by far the lowest rate in the majors.
“I thought the cutter and the four-seam were good,” Ginn said. He added that his sinker running in on left-handed hitters “was really good” as well.
More than any individual pitch, Ginn liked that his misses stayed competitive. “Overall, just, you know, everything was on the plate and close to the plate,” Ginn said. “So I think I pretty much had everything working for myself.” These are the kinds of locations that can still generate weak contact or swings even when they aren’t perfect.
Looking Ahead
As spring training moves forward, that will be the blueprint: stay in the windup, trust the rhythm it creates, and let a refined mix of cutter, changeup, four-seam and sinker work in and around the strike zone for the Athletics.
The Giants defeated the Athletics in Monday’s game, 6–2. On Tuesday, the Athletics will host the NL runner-up Milwaukee Brewers in Cactus League action. First pitch at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona will be at 1:05 pm Mountain/12:05 pm Pacific.
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