Dodgers: Caleb Ferguson Talks About Sandy Koufax Fixing His Curveball

It’s a lot of fun to think back and remember when Caleb Ferguson got called up to the big leagues in the summer. At that time, he was just a prospect with great minor league numbers. Then, his face became known and he would come to be a mainstay in the Dodger bullpen after a few spot starts. By season’s end, Ferguson was an invaluable member that helped the Dodgers win their second straight NL crown.

Ferguson appeared on MLB Network’s ‘Hot Stove’ to talk about his first postseason appearance, and a follow-up conversation about his curveball mechanics with Sandy Koufax.

Caleb Ferguson had quite a 2018.

He went 7-2 for the @Dodgers, didn’t allow a hit in six postseason appearances, and did it all as a 22-year-old rookie.

But that’s just part of @Im__Ferg’s extraordinary journey. pic.twitter.com/PBrpaikeov

— MLB Players Media (@MLBPlayersMedia) January 3, 2019

Ferguson not only catapulted through the system and into the big leagues. Furthermore, he found himself on the mound in the postseason. He spoke towards the conversation he had with Rick Honeycutt following his first postseason inning.

Hey man, my curveball is not feeling right. I can’t do what I want with it.’ It hadn’t been feeling right for a while. And [Honeycutt] was like, ‘Well, Sandy is here, so we’ll just go talk to him after the game. Sandy basically told me I was throwing my curveball the wrong way, ‘here’s how you throw it,’ and now that’s how I’m throwing it. It’s gotten a lot better since then.”

The conversation with Koufax paid immediate dividends. And, it gave the youngster from the Buckeye State a chance to talk his craft over with one of the game’s biggest legends. So what was it like?

“That was insane. I was kind of starstruck to be honest with you. I think that was the first time I was ever starstruck talking to somebody. We talked for probably 30 to 45 minutes on curveballs and placement of your hand.”

Ferguson will be in his age-22 season, and figures to have a long big league career ahead of him. Equally important at this stage – these are the experiences that will make him a coveted member of the roster for years to come.