Alek Jacob is a unicorn on the baseball field. The freshman starting pitcher and Spokane native on Gonzaga’s baseball team does things just a little bit different from other players.
When he takes the mound, he doesn’t throw like the average pitcher. When he starts his motion, Jacob brings his left leg up above his hip, then takes a long stride forward and simultaneously sling-shots his arm across his body, throwing the ball toward home plate.
“He’s a lower side-armed type pitcher, but I think what really sets him apart is that he can throw a fastball, change-up and slider from down there,” said GU's pitching coach Brandon Harmon in a phone interview.