The "
Vulcan changeup" is a type of
pitch in
baseball that is thrown by gripping the ball between the
middle and
ring fingers. The pitch is thrown with a normal arm velocity, but comes to the
plate off-speed like a
changeup, often with a slight
screwball action, biting down and in on right-handed
batters when thrown by a right-handed
pitchers. Current major leaguers who employ the Vulcan change include
Justin Speier,
Guillermo Mota,
Jason Young, and
Tom Glavine.
Dodgers relief ace
Eric Gagne is the undisputed master.
The pitch derives its name, of course, from the "live long and prosper" Vulcan hand gesture made famous by Star Trek's Mr. Spock.