Former MLB pitcher pinpoints key to Emerson Hancock’s breakout

Just when it seemed as if Emerson Hancock’s chances to be a regular starter for the Seattle Mariners were about done, the right-hander evolved his game and forced his way into the rotation.

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After spending the end of last season in the Mariners’ bullpen, the 2020 first-round pick has been Seattle’s most effective starter more than one-third of the way through the season. He leads the starting rotation in ERA (2.80), WHIP (0.95), strikeouts (70) and quality starts (eight), and he’s second to only George Kirby with 70 2/3 innings pitched.

This has come after Hancock posted a combined 4.85 ERA over 162 2/3 innings during the 2023-25 seasons.

On Monday, MLB Network analyst and two-time All-Star pitcher Al Leiter broke down the key change that has led to Hancock’s breakout year, which is the lower arm angle the right-hander is delivering his pitches from.

Over the past two seasons, Hancock has drastically lowered his arm angle. In 2024, it was 27.5 degrees. In 2025, it was 18.5 degrees. And this year, it’s down to 12.2 degrees, the second lowest arm slot among starters in MLB behind only 2024 NL Cy Young-winner Chris Sale.

“He’s cut his ERA essentially in half. He’s pitching lights out,” said Leiter, whose son is current Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter. “It has been fun to watch. Every single metric is saying, ‘Wow! What a difference.’”

On top of the massive drop in ERA, Hancock has also seen his FIP dip from 4.81 to 2.78, opponents’ batting average drop from .266 to .215, and opponents’ OPS drop from .774 to .627. Additionally, his strikeout rate has soared from 15.6% to 25.1%.

Hancock’s year-over-year strikeout-rate increase has also been impressive. He struck out 16.6% of batters a year ago, and his 9.5% increase in the third-highest in baseball among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched in 2025 and 2026.

“Here’s a guy that has figured out I’m gonna drop my arm slot, I am coming at hitters, and I’m saying you can’t hit me, which by the way, every pitcher should think that,” Leiter said. “You get on the mound – I don’t care if you throw 93 or 103 (mph) – you should feel that way.”

Deceiving the hitters

Leiter pointed to how the lower arm angle has complimented Hancock’s arsenal with the deception it creates. He added that an adjustment in Hancock’s landing point with his front foot when pitches, which has led to a more closed-off delivery, has created even more deception.

“He’s already got deception with his arm angle, but by staying closed, guys don’t pick up the ball as well and they’re fighting between two-seamers (running) in on their hands or that sweeping breaking ball,” Leiter said.

Another factor that’s helped marry everything together that stood out to Leiter is how Hancock has been able to consistently spot his four-seamer at the top part of the strike zone. Hancock has gotten more than half of his strikeouts (37) on the four-seamer this year, and his combined plus-11 run value on the four-seamer and sinker is tied for third best in baseball with Milwaukee Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski.

“He’s got an elevated high fastball, which is important… because hitting coaches and scouting reports are gonna say one or two things: He’s got the sinker and he’s got this sweeping breaking ball, so you gotta look down,” Leiter said. “So the fact that he’s been able to consistently make those high pitches, especially with two strikes, has been a difference also.”

Towards the end of his breakdown, Leiter shared a lofty comparison for the new version of Hancock.

“As I’m watching Emerson Hancock back on the edit, I’m like, ‘This is a right-hand version of Chris Sale,'” Leiter said.

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