Jake Brooks Adapts to New Heights with Rockies in Albuquerque

Jake Brooks, a right-handed pitcher for the Rockies, is navigating the complexities of pitching at high altitude after his recent trade from the Miami Marlins. The 25-year-old learned about the trade from his college coach, who reached out to him with the surprising news. Brooks, who had never experienced a trade before, quickly reached out to family and friends to process the change.

Now six months into his transition, Brooks is making starts for Triple-A Albuquerque, where he is adapting to the unique challenges of pitching at 5,000 feet. He has discovered new aspects of his pitching mechanics, particularly his arm extension, which he realized is over seven feet. This extension contributes to the deception of his pitches, allowing him to perform effectively against hitters.

Brooks has maintained a low three-quarters arm slot, which helps generate natural sink on his pitches. His current average release point of 7.0 feet from the rubber ranks him in the 96th percentile among his peers, a significant improvement from his previous season with the Marlins. He attributes much of his development to the training he received in Miami, where he honed his skills and added new pitches to his repertoire.

The Rockies organization has emphasized the importance of throwing strikes, and Brooks has responded well, with over 54 percent of his pitches in Triple-A being thrown inside the strike zone. His ability to attack hitters has been a key focus, and he has achieved a low walk rate of 5.8 percent, showcasing his competitive nature on the mound.