Every morning, we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and check back this weekend to see if it will be in contention for the September Nastiest Pitches GIF Tournament. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList and we’ll GIF it up and give you a shoutout here in the article.
Tyler Glasnow’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/spryslushygalapagosalbatross
If a spot firmly in the cellar of the NL Central wasn’t enough of a kick to the balls for the Pirates this season, the enormous breakout seasons the Rays got from 2018 acquisitions Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows made sure the Pirates’ year was appropriately miserable. Though injury limited his 2019 to just 12 starts, he looked borderline unstoppable in said starts. He put up a 1.78 ERA and 11.27 K/9 on the year, and his 5.8 BB/9 from his Pirates career made way for a legitimately great mark of 2.1. The Rays sure look like they have a certified ace to pair with Charlie Morton and Blake Snell, and an already terrifying team this season looks poised to be one of the absolute best in baseball next year.
Alec Mills‘ Slider
https://gfycat.com/somberillegalbluetickcoonhound
Though their disappointing 2019 season is coming to a close without a playoff berth, there were at least a few bright spots from 2019 for the Cubs—and Alec Mills has been one of those. He’s posted a 10.5 K/9 over 9 games at the MLB level and an impressive 2.75 ERA. If the Cubs are to bounce back in 2020, Alec Mills will be an important piece.
Austin Voth’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/barrenunitedgalapagospenguin
While his major league debut year in 2018 was a disaster, Austin Voth bounced back in a big way in 2019, striking out more than a batter an inning and pitching to a 3.30 ERA across 8 starts for the playoff-bound Nationals. It’s hard to stand out when you’re in a rotation with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, but Austin Voth has definitely done his best.
T.J. Zeuch’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/frenchsizzlingamazonparrot
Though his 4.76 ERA is nothing to be proud of, the rookie T.J. Zeuch—who pitched less than 25 innings at the major league level in 2019—should have a better opportunity to show what he can do for the ridiculously young Blue Jays next season.
Asher Wojciechowski’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/terrificpointlessaustraliansilkyterrier
Claiming the retired Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s title for the most needlessly long name in the MLB, Asher Wojciechowski has had some legitimately great moments in his first season as an Oriole. Although some rocky spots resulted in an end of year ERA of 4.92, there are not many better ways to close out the year than a 4 hit, 6 IP shutout against a divisional rival.
Steven Brault’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/courteousorangecanvasback
Like the Pirates as a whole, this wasn’t really Steven Brault’s year. His 2019 comes to a close with a 5.16 ERA, and a meager 7.94 K/9. He’s still just 27, so he still has time to figure things out, but for the time being, it looks like he’d have fit in just fine on the team he was originally drafted—the Orioles.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the September Nastiest Pitches GIF Tournament.
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