Thomas Eshelman Is A Control Artist In More Ways Than One

Thomas Eshelman (Photo by Cliff Welch)

Thomas Eshelman is known as a control artist. That description is more apt than you know.

Eshelman’s ability to locate his pitches was unparalleled in college, where he walked just 18 in 376 college innings, an incredible 0.43 walks per nine innings over three seasons.

But the 22-year-old Carlsbad, Calif., native also does a good job of keeping his competitive nature in check. The Phillies righthander projects an affability that belies a fire in his belly when he pitches—and that’s just the way he wants it.

“Mentally, I don’t like showing (batters) that they’re getting to me,” the Cal State Fullerton alum said.

Growing up in Carlsbad, Calif., Eshelman loved the Padres and idolized Greg Maddux, who spent parts of his final two seasons with San Diego. His command approaches Maddux’s legendary ability to throw the ball wherever he wanted, but when asked who he is similar to, Eshelman picked another former Padre.

“I always say Jake Peavy when I get asked that question,” Eshelman said. “I liked the way he competed. One time we were blessed to get good tickets when Peavy was pitching and I could hear him having self-dialogue, getting mad at himself.

“My approach is more internal, more within my head . . . but he is a good guy to emulate.”

A scout who knows Eshelman well agreed with his self-assessment.

“What’s interesting is he’s a really nice guy—you don’t picture him getting fired up,” said Astros West Coast crosschecker Brad Budzinski, who followed Eshelman in high school and college as an area scout and got credit for signing him as a second-round pick in 2015.

“But when he gets on the mound, it’s a different story. He’s not overly boisterous, he’s just extremely, sharply focused.”

That competitiveness—combined with his command and deception—helps Eshelman’s mostly average stuff play up. It also helped attract the Phillies, who picked him up along with 2013 No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel and big league righty Vince Velasquez in the six-player Ken Giles deal last offseason.

“I think for him, the biggest thing is fastball command and deception, and overall pitchability,” Budzinski said. “In 2009 . . . I had Mike Leake . . . and Eshelman is next to Leake the best college pitcher in terms of pitchability.”

Budzinski says Eshelman is so deceptive that even scouts bearing down on him had trouble picking up the ball out of his hand.

“It’s a short arm path. You can’t follow the arm back behind his hip because it’s so short, and you can’t see it until it’s on you,” Budzinski said. “If I’m having trouble picking up the release point, you can imagine the batter.

“That buys him margin for error for the secondary stuff.”

Winter Work

Sharpening his secondary pitches is part of Eshelman’s homework this winter after reaching Double-A in his second pro season. He is pointed in knowing he needs to improve.

“I just need to find depth in my pitches,” Eshelman said. “You see the (Jon) Lesters, the Chris Sales, everybody knows they’re going to throw a slider, but they still can’t hit it. Now I’m trying to find my pitch to throw, something to get that strikeout when I need it.

“I can get to 0-2 pretty easy, but it’s putting that guy away that I need to do better.”

A pro scout who saw Eshelman early in the season said his slider didn’t show much depth or spin, just rolling in. A change in grip or slight alteration in mechanics might help Eshelman hone his slider or curveball, but the scout praised Eshelman’s fastball command, saying it is legitimately plus and drawing comparisons to Maddux and Jamie Moyer.

Budzinski said Eshelman’s command manifests itself in not just throwing strikes, but being able to keep the ball down and to the glove side, working comfortably inside to hitters and keeping the ball out of hitters’ “happy zones.”

He believes Eshelman’s athleticism and body control will eventually help him develop an at least an average breaking pitch to enable him to succeed as he climbs the ladder.

Velocity Uptick

One thing that scouts noticed was an increase in velocity this season. After pitching at 87-91 mph in college, Eshelman hit 94 mph once this season and touched 93, which will also help his other offerings play up. He attributed the uptick to increased training, and more rest.

“In college, you’re pretty much going all day,” he said. “Classes all day, practice, then homework, your body is not getting time to recover. When you go pro, you’ve got time on top of time. Nutrition’s getting better, my mechanics have gotten a little cleaner, and it’s gotten a little more out of the arm.

“You can get away with a little more when it’s 92 or 93 instead of 91 . . . and I can get away with it because they can’t see it, it’s coming out of my ear.”

With that command and deception, Eshelman dominated young hitters at high Class A, walking just 11 in 59.1 innings and striking out 64.

But a move to Double-A and Reading’s First Energy Stadium bandbox proved a challenge and he went 5-5, 5.14, giving up 79 hits in 61.1 innings.

“I didn’t try to change my mindset that the ballpark dictated,” he said. “It was different. I learned a lot to succeed this season . . . the ballpark sucked (to pitch in), but it’s one of things we have to deal with—not the fans, it’s one of the best minor league atmospheres.”

Budzinski said players are challenged at every level as they move up and that Eshelman’s struggles were not uncommon.

“Looking at his numbers, walks and strikeouts, they weren’t far off (his norms),” Budzinski said. “It’s like Jurassic Park. The velociraptors are testing the fence, testing where they can get away with stuff, not sure where they are . . .

“He’ll make the adjustments. He’s a guy you have to see a lot to appreciate.”

Wherever Eshelman ends up, he’s already thrilled with his accomplishments.

“I come from humble beginnings,” he said. “My parents worked hard. For me to be at this point in my career, I never expected it. I’m over my expectations. I’m trying to have fun with it . . . it’s been a fun ride and I’m going to keep running.

“Everything’s fun, it’s very surreal.”