Pitcher List was founded on the back of filthy pitches, and we strive to bring you the best of the best every day. However, with over 70+ pitches featured every week, there is a lot to sort through. We ask you, the readers, to vote for your favorite every day, and now is your chance to crown the best of the week.
Every week, we will be featuring the top pitches from each day as voted on by the readers. Then, every Tuesday, you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorite of the week. Make your voice heard in the comments, on Twitter, and in our Discord for which pitch you think is the best!
4/7 – Kyle Hendricks‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/idlecalculatingatlasmoth
Kyle Hendricks opened the season with one of the filthiest changeups we’ll see all year. Talk about getting off to a hot start! Hendricks shined on opening day but struggled in his next outing, and it would likely benefit him to get back to dishing out more of this filthy off-speed offering.
4/8 – Shane McClanahan’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/badselfishhylaeosaurus
Shane McClanahan has been as advertised so far this season, specifically that curveball and the crazy break it gets. The pitch was featured in Nastiest Pitches for each of his starts this season and I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of it this season.
4/8 – Charlie Morton’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/edibletightharrier
Charlie Morton, who is seemingly in his 40th major league season (approximately), continues to throw filthy curveballs that move like they’re wiffle balls. The results haven’t been there yet this year for Morton but there’s still plenty of time for him to turn it around.
4/9 – Carlos Rodón’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/rawredbullmastiff
Carlos Rodón finally had the breakout we all wanted last season and it looks like that breakout has carried over into his first year in San Francisco. Rodón has been money so far this year and has been everything the Giants hoped he would be when they signed him in the offseason. The fastball velocity is still up and the pitch is a legitimate weapon.
4/10 – Hunter Greene’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/torndenseeagle
From one flamethrower to another, Hunter Greene painted this gorgeous 101 MPH right on the edge of the zone for the backwards K. Greene is absolutely dealing the cheese this year and batters are still trying to catch up to it. He’ll face some struggles at some point, but he’s been an electrifying guy to watch so far in 2022.
4/12 – Matt Brash’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/powerlessignoranthake
Everyone is talking about Matt Brash’s slider, and it was featured in Nastiest Pitches twice in his first two starts this year. The pitch gets a ton of late movement and he throws it with really good control, leading to a whopping 39% CSW so far. If you haven’t watched Brash pitch yet, be sure to do so.
4/14 – Sandy Alcantara’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/bronzemeandikkops
Sandy Alcantara has been the ace we all expected him to be this year. His changeup is one of my personal favorite pitches in the league and it’s usually always a solid choice for a nasty GIF. Something’s cooking down in Miami this year, and Alcantara is the key piece.
4/15 – Jhoan Duran’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/positivegrandioseafricanelephant
What more needs to be said about Jhoan Duran’s splinker? A 98 MPH sinker with the movement of a splitter (which is what Baseball Savant classifies it as) is unheard of, and you can see from Trevor Story’s reaction that he can’t really believe what he just saw. Duran is must-watch TV anytime he pitches.
4/15 – Miguel Castro’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/thoroughsentimentalasiaticmouflon
Miguel Castro is one of the nastiest pitches in baseball, as he sports a filthy sinker, a nasty changeup, and a disgusting slider that is tearing apart the AL East this season. This slider actually hit Anthony Santander in the back of the calf, but the pitch was nasty enough that even Santander didn’t say a thing about it.
4/15 – Dylan Cease’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/illlongcockroach
With Carlos Rodón departing, the White Sox expected Dylan Cease to step it up in 2022 to help take Rodón’s place. Sure enough, Cease has been up for the challenge. He’s sporting a 38% CSW with the slider so far this season, easily his best pitch, and the one he buried in the dirt against Josh Lowe last Friday was among the nastiest he’s thrown so far.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)