Focused WooSox right-hander Connor Seabold finds effective consistency

WORCESTER — Connor Seabold was in the midst of one of his best pitching performances, but he wasn’t happy. 

The WooSox right-hander was tossing his warmup pitches before the top of the sixth inning when one of his changeups got away from him. His body language showed his disgust.

It meant he was dialed in and focused.

“Even with your warmup pitches, you want to throw quality pitches, so it translates into the inning,” he said. “The first two, or three kind of sailed on me, so it was like, ‘Come on, lock it back in.’ That’s all it was.”

Seabold worked a masterpiece. He threw six scoreless innings, allowed one hit, walked only one and struck out a career-high 11 Red Wing batters. He matched a season-high of 92 pitches (66 strikes).

“He was amazing,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “He threw the ball pretty much where ever he wanted to. It was fun to watch. He pitched. It was awesome.”

Everything was working for Seabold. He has found consistency with his four-pitch mix — four-seam fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. He’s comfortable with his entire repertoire, especially the combination of his fastball and slider.

“It’s a testament to locating and executing,” he said.

He’s a different pitcher than he was in 2021. He’s healthy and well beyond last season’s early elbow injury, and he’s trusting his routine and process. He’s also more intent on his bullpen work, and that has translated into success between the lines.

“He’s been locked in,” Tracy said. “Just an insane about of focus from him today. He was very focused on what he was doing and very determined to give us a good outing and give us a chance. He did just that.”

A season ago, when he didn’t execute a pitch during an outing, he would get animated on the mound, and it had a tendency to snowball on him. That’s not the case this season.

“He’s driving the bus, and he knows where he’s going,” WooSox pitching coach Paul Abbott said.

Seabold dropped his ERA to 2.45 with 37 strikeouts, while issuing only 10 walks this season.

“I’m hitting my spots,” Seabold said.

There were 9,134 in attendance for Seabold’s heroics on the mound. Unfortunately for the WooSox, they dropped a 7-4 decision in 10 innings to the Rochester Red Wings at Polar Park. Worcester has lost 10 straight.

Seabold could have pitched into the seventh, but the coaching staff felt 92 pitches was enough this time out. Next start, if Seabold continues to roll, he’ll be allowed to work deeper into the game.

The game was delayed 43 minutes with the tarp on the field due to rain. It did not have a negative impact on Seabold’s pregame routine. Even though he’s pitching well, he’s not focused on what’s happening in Boston. He’s in the moment in Worcester until told otherwise.

“Not thinking about it,” he said. “You can’t do that.”

The 26-year-old made his major league debut with the Red Sox Sept. 11, 2021, against the Chicago White Sox, and sooner than later, he’ll be back in Boston.

“He trusted his stuff, and he’s been trusting it all year,” Tracy said. “You’re seeing a very focused guy right now who trusts what he’s doing.”

—Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.