Athletics Report: JP Sears Continues to Work Windup, Breaking Pitches
MESA, Ariz. (Mar. 2) — Athletics left-hander JP Sears made his second Cactus League start of 2025 Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Hohokam Stadium. Despite it being split-squad for the Dodgers, they still had some formidable lumber in the lineup. Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, Michael Conforto, Enrique Hernandez, and James Outman made up the first five batting slots. Sears allowed two runs on three hits across three innings, walking two and striking out one. The two runs both scored on a home run by Dodgers first baseman David Bote. This came five days after Sears retired all six San Francisco Giants he faced, three going down via strikeout.
Working the Windup
In both starts, Sears has been working on getting used to working out of the windup, something he has not done since 2019, when he was with the New York Yankees. After his Tuesday start against the Giants, Sears said he felt relaxed. “I felt really fluid and was happy with my execution on my fastball,” he said Tuesday. “Threw a couple of good changeups, got some outs, and threw some decent sliders.” His progress continued Sunday as far as getting used to pitching out of the windup again.
The reason for switching back to the windup has to do, in part, with the adoption of the pitch clock. When pitching out of the windup, the countdown ends once he takes the first step backwards to begin his motion. This allows him to wait longer before making his delivery. “The stretch takes a second longer,” he explained. “With the windup, I’m able to wind it all the way down to one or two seconds then take my step. It gives me a little bit more peace of mind on the mound to know I don’t have quite as many things to think about in hurrying up to get my leg up to go to the plate.” Sears added that pitching out of the windup helps with his timing and rhythm.
Landing the Breaking Balls
Another aspect of his game that Sears has been working on is locating his breaking balls and sequencing them in such a way as to throw off his opponents’ timing. Despite the Bote homer coming on a hanging slider, Sears has been pleased with the progress thus far. However, it took until the second and third innings to feel this way. “With all those lefties in there today,” he said, “I was able to throw a decent amount of sweepers. It felt like I choked a couple of them early, but then I got better at them in the second and third innings. So I feel a lot better about them than I did. A couple of days, couple of weeks ago it was something I was trying to get better at. The only way to really do that is from live reps.”
Looking Ahead
The Athletics ultimately fell to the Dodgers Sunday, 8–4. They will continue their Cactus League schedule Monday afternoon at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona against the Chicago White Sox. Athletics right-hander Joey Estes will face White Sox righty Sean Burke. First pitch will be at 1:05 pm Mountain/12:05 pm Pacific.
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Main Photo:
MESA, Ariz. (Mar. 2) — Athletics left-hander JP Sears delivers the first pitch of Sunday’s Cactus League contest at Hohokam Stadium to Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers ultimately defeated the Athletics, 8–4. (Evan Thompson/Sport Relay)
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