 Valenzuela was notable for his unorthodox windup and for being one of a small number of pitchers who threw a screwball regularly.Never a particularly hard thrower, the Dodgers felt he needed another pitch; he was taught the screwball in 1979 by teammate Bobby Castillo.Valenzuela was signed by the Dodgers on July 6, 1979, and he made his debut late in the season.