CLEVELAND — When discussing player development in baseball, the focus often shifts to younger athletes, promising prospects, and rookies acclimating to the major leagues. However, the journey of improvement knows no age limit, as demonstrated by Detroit Tigers reliever Beau Brieske. At 28 years old, Brieske is in his fifth season with the Tigers and has undergone significant transformations throughout his career.
Brieske's evolution has included a shift from starting pitcher to reliever, alongside overcoming nerve issues in his arm that necessitated adjustments to his pitching arsenal. Now, he is entering yet another phase of development, returning to the Tigers this month with a newly reintroduced curveball, a pitch he had set aside during his transition to relief pitching.
“I wanted something that moves straight down to try to help out with the fastball,” Brieske explained regarding his decision to bring back the curveball from his time at Triple-A Toledo. Previously, he relied heavily on a power four-seam fastball, complemented by changeups that moved away from left-handed hitters and sliders that targeted right-handed hitters. This approach, while effective, often allowed batters to zone in on his pitches.
Brieske noted that the lack of pitch variety sometimes made it easier for hitters to anticipate his offerings. His strikeout rate reflected this challenge, peaking at 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 2024 but dropping to 6.5 in 2025 and 7.6 in a limited sample this year. “I thought if I could get something that goes down, it would give the hitter another thought, another visual, they have to cover,” he said, hoping that the addition of the curveball would create more uncertainty for opposing batters.
The introduction of the curveball also adds an essential off-speed option to Brieske's repertoire. His existing changeup and slider both average around 89 mph, while he aims for the curveball to spin in at approximately 85 mph. “Just having that fourth speed,” he remarked, “it’s something I can use to play the front-to-back game as well.” This strategy involves mixing pitch velocities to keep hitters off balance, forcing them to adjust their timing.
Brieske last utilized a curveball in 2022, where it proved effective, yielding a .158 batting average against it. However, injuries hindered his ability to maintain the necessary speed differential for this pitch. “Yeah, prior to the arm injuries, it was a really slow, pronated changeup. But the nerve stuff threw a wrench into my ability to throw that,” he reflected. Despite these setbacks, Brieske remains focused on adjusting and improving.
He has modified his grip slightly since his last curveball attempt, experimenting to find the most effective position. In a recent game against the Minnesota Twins, he threw the curveball seven times, primarily targeting right-handed hitters. Although he threw it a bit firmer than intended, averaging 86.6 mph, he achieved a positive outcome with no balls put in play and one swing-and-miss.
As the season progresses, Brieske is aware of the significance of this month for his career. While his primary goal is to contribute to the Tigers' success, he is also cognizant of his status as he enters his second year of arbitration, making him susceptible to being non-tendered. Despite having 123 games of experience, including six in the postseason, this stretch serves as a critical audition for Brieske.
As the Tigers prepare for their upcoming game against the Cleveland Guardians, the focus will be on how Brieske's new pitch and ongoing development can impact the team's performance. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM at Progressive Field, with the game broadcasted on Detroit SportsNet and 97.1 FM.
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