Showing more confidence, vocal Arrighetti ready to become a leader

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti loves to talk. He will talk to anyone, anywhere, about practically anything. He’ll discuss music, food and golf all day and do it with a smile on his face. More than anything else, Arrighetti prefers to talk about the science of pitching. Nothing gets him grinning more than the discussion of spin rates and pitch shapes.

These days, Arrighetti’s voice carries more weight in the Astros clubhouse. That’s to be expected following a rookie season in 2024 in which he was thrust into the rotation because of injuries and wound up making 29 appearances (28 starts) and throwing a career-high 145 innings. Arrighetti admits there’s less of a weight upon his shoulders this spring than there was a year ago and he’s more confident in his own skin.

“My demeanor is a little bit different these days,” he said. “I feel a little looser. I’m messing around a little bit more, a little more vocal. Still listening, obviously, and still picking brains where I can. I think last year, I tried to not open my mouth too much, to be completely honest. I kind of wanted to soak it all in.”

Last spring, Arrighetti’s locker was next to Justin Verlander, which was by design. Verlander is one of the best pitchers of his generation, and Arrighetti prodded him for information as much as he could. And then he sat back and listened.

“And this year, I feel like I’ve been a little more open with the younger guys and trying to set a good example about how we try to get our work done day in and day out,” he said. “It’s been fun. I feel like the energy’s great right now.”

Arrighetti, 25, was the Opening Day starter last season at Triple-A Sugar Land and made his second and third starts of the season with the Astros. He was optioned to Triple-A on April 16 and returned five days later when Cristian Javier landed on the injured list. Arrighetti never left the rotation, going 7-13 with a 4.53 ERA and pitching better in the second half (3.18 ERA) than the first half (5.63 ERA).

After emerging as a rookie, Arrighetti is now entrenched in the Houston rotation and is eager to build upon his strong second half. A student of the game, he’s learned more about himself as a pitcher.

“I think at times last year, I was out there just throwing the ball,” he said. “This year, the key for me is to really be confident in the things I’m saying and trust that process that I set out for myself this offseason. I feel that strongly.”

Consistency wasn’t Arrighetti’s friend last year. He went through ups and downs like most rookies do, but to the extreme. For example, he gave up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings June 15 against the Tigers and threw seven scoreless against the Rockies 11 days later. Arrighetti’s best stretch came in August when he posted a 1.95 ERA and .168 opponents’ average with 47 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings en route to being named AL Rookie of the Month.

Astros manager Joe Espada is pleased to see how much Arrighetti has matured, along with fellow starters Ronel Blanco and Hunter Brown, both of whom had breakout seasons in ‘24.

“I just think that he’s more comfortable,” Espada said of Arrighetti. “He knows that we’re counting on him. He knows he’s one of our starters and that relaxes him in a good way. I want these guys to ask questions and take over that leadership role that we need in the rotation. We need those guys to not only lead on the mound, but lead in the clubhouse.”

Arrighetti said he had another 15 or 20 innings left in the tank at the end of last season despite a career-high workload. Still, he took a more relaxed approach to ramping up for the season and no longer chased velocity. He continues to grow.

“I tried out to out-stuff everyone in Minor League baseball and that just doesn’t play here,” he said. “These guys, they adapt. They center their game around what I’m trying to do. … It’s just the learning the cat-and-mouse, learning the chess game that is pitching in the big leagues against the best hitters in the world.”