Circle changeup the index finger on the seam of the ball and the thumb on the side of the ball to "choke" the ball. According to his autobiography, Nolan Ryan also developed his own circle changeup to add another off-speed pitch without having to throw a slider (as sliders are believed to more frequently cause injuries). Circle changeup In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name circle changeup. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel
Joel Hanrahan radar gun at Great American Ball Park once clocked him at 102 mph during a Reds game. His fastball was his primary pitch and the one he threw most often in every count except 1–2. Hanrahan's pitching style changed dramatically following the transition to the bullpen. In 2007, his velocity was about five miles per hour lower across the board. He also made frequent use of a changeup in the low 80s against left-handed hitters. His fastball speed grew considerably in 2008, and by 2010, he stopped throwing the changeup altogether. Joel Hanrahan Joel Ryan Hanrahan (born October 6, 1981)