Carter Hawkins, now the director of player development for the Cleveland Indians, was a part of the organization in 2010 when Steven Wright started the transition into a full-fledged knuckleball pitcher.

"Most players are not going to reach the major leagues," Hawkins said the other day, referring to those drafted, signed or acquired for the minor leagues. "So it makes sense to take big risks."

The Indians' front office had heard from Wright's teammates that in playing catch between appearances, Wright threw a great knuckleball, and over time, he had begun to use the knuckler in games as a finishing pitch, something to throw to hitters when he was ahead in the count.

The Indians encouraged Wright to go all-in on the pitch. Wright recalled Saturday how he had expressed doubts to Ross Atkins, then the director of player development, and Atkins reminded the 25-year-old pitcher that he was repeating Double-A. Wright needed to do something to elevate himself.