Erik Bennett is a Pitcher's Coach
Once the catcher and pitcher have agreed upon the pitch, it is up to our designated pitcher to execute. Each pitch has several variations, but it all begins with specific hand positions and technique on the release. Salt Lake Bees pitching coach Erik Bennett works with current pitchers on these skills to hone their abilities.
Bennett was drafted by the Angels in 1989 and also saw time with the Minnesota Twins, owning a 2-0 record in 25 appearances in the Majors. Bennett spent time in the minor leagues as well, including 17 games with the then Salt Lake Buzz, owning a 3-1 record and 6.38 ERA. He had a total of 226 appearances on the farm to accumulate a 49-48 record and overall 4.03 ERA.
Taking his knowledge as a player at all levels of the game, Bennett began his coaching career as the pitching coach for the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 1995.
"The coaching at the lower levels is more mechanical and requires more attention on the player's technique," explains Bennett. "The higher you go, you refine your stuff to more game situations and sequences of your pitches. So by the time they get here [Triple-A], the mechanical stuff is pretty well taken care of. It is basic maintenance right now with these guys."
In 2007, he coached the Double-A Arkansas Travelers and made his return to Utah in 2008, joining the Salt Lake Bees coaching staff. Entering his second season as the Bees pitching coach and 14th with the Angels organization, Bennett brings a lot of experience to the pitching staff.
"Since I played with the Angels, there are a lot of guys that are still around in the organization that I know, so I know what they are looking for," said Bennett. "It's a little easier to have that routine because I know what they expect of my players."
Although all of the pitches are complex to execute, the pitch that is the hardest to tweak in Bennett's opinion is the change-up. There are three different styles of the pitch, but the palm ball is his favorite. The palm ball, which was Bennett's strikeout pitch when he played, requires placing the baseball tightly in the palm and then throwing it as if throwing a fastball. This takes some of the velocity off the pitch, which causes the batter to swing before the ball reaches the plate.
"The changeup is difficult to tweak because there are a bunch of different grips you can throw with," said Bennett. "You can throw splits, palm ball, or circle change; it is all about positioning the ball in your hand in different ways."
Changeup pitchers to watch on the Bees include Sean O'Sullivan, Fernando Rodriguez and Anthony Ortega.
The curveball is a pitch that requires the pitcher to leverage the seams out in front of their release point. What does that mean? You want to utilize the tops of the seams on the ball so you have all four of them biting against the air for you as it glides towards the plate. This makes for a tight rotation and there is a slight break at the end if you get the right spin on it. Current Angel Matt Palmer, while he was in a Bees uniform, had an excellent curveball to emulate.
The slider is a variation of the curveball that Bennett enjoys coaching.
"I really like to coach the slider," said Bennett. "You want to have it come out of your hand looking like a fastball, but you want it to have a short, late tilt at the end which causes a swing over by the batter. The ball should have a nice little dot on it, with a tight spin, and a late, sharp break."
The fastball is the most common pitch in baseball. The pitch is thrown very fast and the variations can include movement, or just be a straight pitch. The variations with movement are often called sinkers because of their trajectory pattern at the end.
"There are a lot of different ways that someone can have the 'best' fastball," commented Bennett. "But all of my pitchers are good."
Already this season we've seen a number of pitchers get called up, including Matt Palmer, Anthony Ortega and Daniel Davidson. Bennett would like to see every Bees pitcher flourish and make it the Majors, making each one personal projects for him to buff and polish.
"I love coming to the park and working with my guys every day. It keeps me busy and I have a lot of fun with them," said Bennett. "I have a good group of guys again this year. I've had a lot of them as they've come up, so I have a good relationship with them and have gotten to know them pretty well. All of them are my projects and I hope to get them all to the next level."
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring