And then there were eight. After tallying your votes, the 16 nastiest pitches from minor league pitchers in 2019 have been whittled down to just eight, and you have a chance once again to vote on your favorites as we work to get the winner from this group of nasty offerings.
Here are the rules:
- All GIFs were pulled from pitchers who have yet to appear in a major league game
- You can only vote on a matchup once, so make sure you pick the one you absolutely want.
- Voting will continue until 12:00 a.m. EST the following morning. This is the first round.
Here are the matchups for Round 2:
American Bracket
1. Nate Pearson’s Slider vs. 4. Mackenzie Gore’s Fastball
6. Eli Morgan’s Changeup vs. 7. Enoli Paredes‘ Curveball
National Bracket
1. Kyle Muller’s Curveball vs. 4. Ian Anderson’s Curveball
2. Sixto Sanchez’s Changeup vs. 3. Drew Rasmussen’s Slider
Watch the GIFs in the Links Below!
Nate Pearson’s Slider vs. Mackenzie Gore’s Fastball
Nate Pearson is one of the most exciting pitching prospects in baseball, thanks primarily to his blazing fastball. He also throws a hard, tight slider that—when he locates it like this—is nearly impossible to get any wood on. This camera angle doesn’t do it much justice, but at least the radar gun does. Mackenzie Gore absolutely paints this 97 mile per hour heat high and away to Connor Wong, who is either looking for a breaking pitch or just straight up can’t catch up to the sizzle. Gore is perhaps the best pitching prospect in the game, and it’s not hard to see why.
https://gfycat.com/tiredinsignificantazurevase
VS.
https://gfycat.com/delayedgrotesquefishingcat-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10551140]
Eli Morgan’s Changeup vs. Enoli Paredes‘ Curveball
Eli Morgan has perhaps the best changeup in the minors, as this thing looks like it’s falling down an elevator shaft. He’s an undersized, spin rate monster who could flash well in the middle innings, especially as long as that change piece stays filthy. Down and in to a left-hander is always a dangerous spot to live, but not when you have the nasty, sharp drop on your curveball that Enoli Paredes has. When it looks like a strike for 55 feet and falls off the table, minor league hitters have virtually no chance of getting any wood on it. And when he makes the show, those big league hitters will struggle too.
https://gfycat.com/narrowmixedblackfish-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/speedymellowamericanpainthorse-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10551138]
Kyle Muller’s Curveball vs. Ian Anderson’s Curveball
Kyle Muller is not the most well-known name in Atlanta’s pitching-heavy farm system, but the big left-hander has an absolute hammer of a curveball. Paired with his plus fastball, he has the makings of a stud reliever in due time, if he doesn’t crack it in the rotation. The Braves love collecting big pitching prospects with hammer breaking balls, as Ian Anderson joins Kyle Muller in this tournament. Anderson is a polished arm who should settle in nicely as a mid-rotation arm thanks to a complete arsenal and good pitchability, and this breaking ball will get plenty of big swings and misses in the show.
https://gfycat.com/honestnextafricangroundhornbill-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/frenchquarrelsomekitty
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10551137]
Sixto Sanchez’s Changeup vs. Drew Rasmussen’s Slider
Sixto Sanchez has already drawn some early comparisons to Pedro Martinez, and while that’s a tad unfair he does have the tools to succeed in the big leagues, especially with this nasty changeup with late life. Drew Rasmussen is my pitching prospect crush for this year. After two elevated heaters, each at 99 miles per hour, Rasmussen dropped this tight slider in on the hands, giving the hitter virtually no chance of making contact. An absolutely filthy sequence that would make Blake Snell (and Nick) very proud.
https://gfycat.com/alarmingarcticfairyfly-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/pitifulfeminineglowworm-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10551136]