While the baseball world was lit up by dingers last night, we here at Pitcher List were, as you can imagine, focused on pitching. The eight sluggers showcased on Monday night should not overshadow the performance of their pitchers, who put in just as much effort (if not more) than the professional hitters squaring up and jacking dongs in Texas. They were forced into a lose-lose situation; when a hitter knocked one out of the park, it’s the pitcher’s fault. But when the hitter couldn’t hit it out, it was also the pitcher’s fault. Why should they be sacrificial lambs for the entertainment of the masses? It’s time to give them some glory. I present to you the Nastiest Pitches from the 2024 Home Run Derby.
Dino Ebel’s Curveball
Dino Ebel has been the third base coach for the Dodgers since 2019, and he should clearly moonlight as their closer with this filthy stuff. Ebel won a DII championship with Florida Southern College in 1988, though he somehow wasn’t a pitcher in his baseball career. One would think that a perfectly spotted dirty curveball would elicit a whiff and catch the eye of scouts everywhere, especially with a name like Dino. Think of the marketing deals this guy could get. He did pitch to the eventual champion, however, and the fact that he allowed 49 bombs on the night should absolutely be held against him.
Scott Wingo’s Slider
It took me a moment to realize the black things circled around the batter’s box were cameras and not crows, which would have been the ultimate bad omen for long-shot Alec Bohm’s chances if he hadn’t opened the night with an electrifying 21 home runs. That doesn’t mean that pitcher Scott Wingo wasn’t trying his hardest – this slider down and in would have had most hitters swinging right through it. Are these guys allowed to use sticky substances? I’d like someone to check their hands, please.
Scott Wingo’s Sinker
This looks to me like a man who has been studying seam-shifted wake concepts while fine-tuning his sinker grip at Driveline. Of all the pitchers on the night, I was most impressed by Wingo. His mechanics were solid and he had a live arm. Look at him whip it in there. This pitch may not have been where Bohm wanted it, but it had enough late movement on it to still catch the top of the zone. I want this man on my fantasy team.
Dave Jauss‘ Fastball
Dave Jauss was the hero everyone fell in love with after he helped carry Pete Alonso to the Home Run Derby championship in 2021. Without Jauss last year, Alonso struggled and was eliminated in the first round. Well, Jauss came back looking for blood because he was throwing junk that Alonso simply could not square up. Look at this heat. 65 MPH right down the pipe and the Polar Bear wanted nothing to do with it. Alonso once again lost in the first round, and while everyone will blame his declining skills, I tend to believe Jauss simply brought his A-game tonight. He reminded everyone that he is the true Home Run Derby ace.
Junior Betances‘ Changeup
Before the Derby started, José Ramírez told ESPN commentator Eduardo Perez that he would be hitting from the right side. Perez reported as much. Well, Jo-Ram shocked the world when he came up to bat and started hitting lefty. Perez was floored, his trust shattered. The move paid off for Ramírez, as he advanced to the semifinals only to get shown up by Bobby Witt Jr. But enough about the hitting. Ramírez’ pitcher, Junior Betances, came prepared with his best changeup. This thing gets a ton of arm-side movement, and I think I see a little pronation there as he releases the ball. Betances has spent 18 years coaching in Cleveland’s minor league organization, and as a professional, he even saw a couple of outings on the mound. In 1.1 innings of work during his minor league career, Betances did not allow a run. However, his career ERA ballooned on Monday night. I’ll let you all do the math yourselves.
James Russell’s Slider
Of all the pitchers we saw in this Derby, James Russell is the only one who was an actual pitcher in his professional day. Russell pitched for the Cubs from 2010-2015, then spent a brief moment with the Phillies the following year before calling it a career. He is married to Bobby Witt Jr.’s sister, which in itself makes him more than qualified to perform on this stage. He spent time with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League in 2018, which may be the best team name in all of America. He was also the only lefty to take the mound. This slider had some extra bite to it as it came in and jammed Witt at the last moment.
Jose Yepez’s Eephus
This pitch was a ball the entire way, right up until it wasn’t. You’d never guess, but Jose Yepez was not a pitcher in his professional career. He played around the diamond in his 15 years in the minor leagues and playing abroad, never reaching the major leagues. He did make two pitching appearances in the minor leagues, however; one lasted 1/3 of an inning and he allowed four home runs, while the other lasted 2/3 of an inning and he actually struck out a batter. Marcell Ozuna must have seen footage of that first outing and salivated at the thought of hitting bombs off this guy. I’d also hate to be the one man who struck out against a backup catcher who later went on to pitch in the Home Run Derby. If you’re out there, reveal yourself.
Photos courtesy of Flickr CC
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)