Thread by @BaseballDoesnt

In 2017, Yennier Cano was banned from playing or even practicing baseball

Here’s how he became the most dominant pitcher in MLB, 5 years later…

Before Cano got banned, he tried to quit… he was 15, not being considered by any decent teams, and discouraged. His coach didn’t let him.

His coach asked his Mom to let him take Cano to a tryout. She said...

yes but if he didn’t make the team, he no longer play baseball

He made the youth team.

After a few years he was selected to do mandatory military service.

He was 18, on a military base and could only play baseball 2 days a week.

These were sandlot games against other soldiers…

Suddenly he was called up to the Major League club.
Granting him permission to leave the military immediately.

He dominated at the top level of Cuba. Leading Ciego de Ávila to two championships.

Then he got banned..

(video @Jerryto94)

In 2017 his mother died. leading him to attempt to go to America to play MLB.

He sent a request to the Cuban government. They Banned him from baseball...

Just for requesting to leave.

He still tried to stay in shape by practicing on local fields…But government officials would show up and kick him off the field.

He was 23 and couldn’t even practice baseball.

Yennier left Cuba and went to Argentina to train.

Of all the places in the world Argentina is where he first learned his changeup… Today it is one of the best pitches in baseball…

Last year it was terrible…

Yennier Cano used to throw like this…

But in 2020 he lowered his arm angle, becoming significantly more effective….

Still not effective enough to be in the major leagues...

In 2022 he had the 3rd Worst ERA in MLB (min. 10 innings). Was traded. Was left off the opening day roster in 2023. And wasn't even one of the top 30 prospects in the organization.

But in spring 2023, he lowered his release point even further...

By dropping it 2.4 inches…

He added an insane 6 extra inches of vertical movement on his changeup and his sinker.

His Sinker has 16 inches of horizontal movement, and 33Inches of vertical drop, more than any other sinker in the league.

That's not even his best pitch..

His change up has the EXACT same horizontal and vertical movement, meaning the hitter can't tell the difference… Except it’s 5 mph slower, hitters have no chance.

Opponents are hitting .000 against his change up. He’s thrown it 86 times.

He’s pitched in 17 games 21.2 innings and has given up…

0 RUNS
0 Walks
4 Hits...

To learn even more about Yenier's journey from Cuba read @afkostka article. Amazing article about his life before MLB which I had no idea about.
thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/orioles…