What happened: Cooper Pratt cuts out excess hand and body motion before pitch release to stay on postseason velocity. He drove in the tying run in Game 4 after having faced a 102 mph fastball high and tight earlier in the October run.

Why it matters: Minimizing pre-pitch movement shortens the swing trigger against high-leverage playoff pitching. Pairing a Minor League Gold Glove defensive profile with extra-base power and aggressive baserunning, including a close stolen-base bid in Game 4, provides two-way production in late-inning situations.

What to watch: Watch how opposing pitching staffs adjust their pitch sequencing against Pratt's simplified load over the remainder of the series.