Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games. If you see something you think should be included here be sure to tweet @PitcherList to let us know. Or, if you’re a PL+ Member and part of our Discord, shout it out in the Nastiest Pitches channel. If your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free t-shirt. If you’re not already a PL+ member, you’re missing out!
Emmanuel Clase’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/safegroundedhochstettersfrog
101 mph cutters make sliders like this darn near impossible. There is nothing special about it movement-wise, but paired with that cutter helps get it a 50% O-Swing, 27% SwStr%, and .175 xwOBA.
Jon Gray’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/caringgorgeousbluetickcoonhound
This changeup generates the whiff due to its location. It is a pretty typical changeup from Gray otherwise. Many of its underlying metrics are average and he throws it about 12% of the time. However, it has a .087 AVG and .143 wOBA. It also has a .100 BABIP and 0% HR/FB%.
Julio Urías‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/blindcomplicatedlice
Urías’ curveball is a frequent guest on Nastiest Pitches. It is about 400 RPMs higher than the average MLB curveball and he has consistently been able to limit hard contact with it.
Edwin Díaz’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/gregariousquaintclingfish
This 100.7 mph high heat was too good to pass up, despite the odd camera work. There is not much that needs to be said about Díaz. His Whiff% and K% are both in the 100th percentile and fastball velocity is 99th percentile.
Patrick Sandoval’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/quarterlylastingbaboon
Sandoval gets Escobar out in front on this beautiful changeup. While not quite as good as last year, it is still a strong pitch for him, boasting a 24% SwStr%, 32% CSW, and .149 wOBA.
Seth Lugo’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/wellmademassivelemming
This nasty curveball from Lugo seems to have a lot of late break to it. It has 60″ of vertical break and 3145 RPM of spin. It has not been quite as dominant in 2022 as in past years, but it still maintains a .174 AVG, .187 wOBA, and .196 xwOBA.
Carlos Rodón’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/safecircularamericanavocet
You’ll see Rodón do this to a lot of lefties with his slider. It ends up way below the zone and Bellinger waves feebly at it. Aided by his arm slot it has a 39% Whiff% on the season.
Josh Hader’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/readyappropriatecaecilian
Righties have to worry so much about Hader’s down-and-in slider that when he nails the up-and-away corner with a 99 mph sinker like this they have very little hope. Hader is of course fantastic.
Devin Williams‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/distortedtinyhoneybee
Williams is back at it again with his devastating changeup, which he throws 53% of the time. The 43% O-Swing% and 24% SwStr% are both nearly 10% better than league average. The 49% Whiff% is 20% better.
Amir Garrett’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/jollywelloffasianelephant
Garrett’s mound mannerisms make him fun to watch, though I doubt Adley Rutschman is comfortable enough at the big league level to think so. From 2019-2021 Garrett threw his slider around 50% of the time. In 2022 that usage rate is up to an astounding 73%. Despite its very high usage, it has generated a .103 AVG, .183 wOBA, and 8.7% Hard Contact rate.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)