Tigers trio pushing trend, bringing once-taboo split-finger pitch back in vogue

LAKELAND, Fla. — Not that long ago, throwing split-fingered fastballs was frowned upon by big-league clubs. With the grip and the arm action, it’s too hard on the arm, they said, specifically on the forearm and elbow. Even though there were no studies that conclusively show a correlation between throwing splitters and having Tommy John surgery, the implied risk was enough to push pitchers to forego the splitter in favor of a changeup. Times have changed. The Tigers have three pitchers who prominently feature splitters in their arsenal. Two of them threw an inning of live batting practice back-…

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