Ryan Madson owes a debt of gratitude to Fletch Jorgenson. His Little League coach taught Madson how to throw the change-up.

“He taught me it when I was about nine,” Madson said. “He read about about how to throw it in a book. My dad didn’t want me throwing a breaking ball. I’ve been throwing it ever since.”

The change-up was key to Madson becoming what he is today: a major league closer.

Madson threw the change-up more than any pitcher in Major League Baseball last year – 35 percent of the time. It was devastatingly effective. Batters swung and missed 52 percent of the times – third most in the majors for a right-hander. They only put it in play 25 percent of the time.

Madson’s change-up averages 83.9 mph, according to fangraphs.com. His fastball averages 94 mph. That kind of differential is enough to make hitters look silly. Madson has no set sequence with the change-up.

“I go batter-by-batter, pitch-by-pitch,” he said. “I’ll throw it on any count.”

Madson became a full-time closer for the first time last season. He went 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 32 saves in 34 chances for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Madson, 31, spent his whole career with Philly. He became really effective in 2007 when he was moved to the bullpen full-time. He’s put up ERAs of 3.05, 3.05, 3.26, 2.55 and 2.37 since the move.

He was used to close in a pinch before last year. He saved 10 games in 2009 and five in 2010.

Then he really grew comfortable in the role.

“I treat (the ninth) like any other inning,” he said. “Everyone knows it’s there. But you can’t put any extra pressure on yourself.”

Madson fell into the Reds’ collective lap. Just when the Reds were having trouble reaching a deal with incumbent closer Francisco Cordero, Madson was running out of free agent options.

He thought he had a four-year, $44 million deal with the Phillies in November. But that fell apart. The Phillies ended up signing Jonathan Papelbon, and Madson re-entered the crowded closer market.

“After that deal fell through, I didn’t have any idea where I’d end up,” he said.

The Reds offered a one-year, $8.5 million deal, in which a lot of money ($6.5 million) is deferred. To their surprise, Madson accepted.

He was glad to end up with a contender.

“You want to play for a team with a chance to win,” he said.

Madson doesn’t fill a huge void. Cordero was effective last year. He converted 37 of 44 save attempts and put up a 2.45 ERA.

“Everyone keeps talking about the closer,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Coco did a good job for us. Madson did a good job in Philadelphia. Closing is newer to him than it was to Coco.”

But Madson is much more proven than the in-house candidates the Reds would have considered.

“To get Ryan Madson after it looked like we weren’t going to be able to sign Cordero is one of those shock-and-awe moments,” pitching coach Bryan Price said. “So, yeah, I was surprised to be able to get a top-tier closer who just coming into his own.”

John Fay has been the Reds beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer since 2001.