One of the many things Major League Baseball struggles with is marketing its players. Mike Trout is famously as recognizable to the average American as the NBA’s Kenneth Faried, proof the league is failing to show off their elite talent.
That’s especially true of the minor leagues, where video is nearly impossible to come by and fans are left waiting for their top prospects to debut in the major leagues for them to ever see what they are made of.
However – in light of this global pandemic, the MLB did something smart and made MiLB.tv free for a certain period of time, allowing fans to go watch some of their favorite prospects. Hooray! As the dynasty manager here at Pitcher List, I figured this was a great opportunity to highlight some of the filthiest pitches in the minor leagues by creating a GIF tournament.
I tried to mix in a fair amount of the game’s most elite young pitchers (Gore, Whitley, Howard, etc.) while also mixing in some less-heralded names to give even the most diligent prospect hounds a chance to see some pitchers they may have otherwise missed.
Anyway, 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 1:
American Bracket
1. Nate Pearson’s Slider vs. 8. Brailyn Marquez’s Slider
2. Clarke Schmidt’s Curveball vs. 7. Enoli Paredes‘ Curveball
3. Spencer Howard’s Changeup vs. 6. Eli Morgan’s Changeup
4. Mackenzie Gore’s Fastball vs. 5. Shane Baz’s Fastball
National Bracket
1. Kyle Muller’s Curveball vs. 8. Joey Wentz’s Curveball
2. Sixto Sanchez’s Changeup vs. 7. Jackson Kowar’s Changeup
3. Drew Rasmussen’s Slider vs. 6. Alex Faedo’s Slider
4. Ian Anderson’s Curveball vs. 5. Forrest Whitley’s Fastball
Watch the GIFs in the Links Below!
Nate Pearson’s Slider vs. Brailyn Marquez’s Slider
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. Brailyn Marquez is less heralded, but he also sports a wicked fastball in the Cubs system. His slider has much more movement, however, and here you can see how devastating it is when buried down and in to a right-hander.
https://gfycat.com/tiredinsignificantazurevase
VS.
https://gfycat.com/fatalshortamurminnow
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550337]
Clarke Schmidt’s Curveball vs. Enoli Paredes‘ Curveball
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 both Clarke Schmidt and Enoli Paredes have. 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 these guys make the show, those big league hitters will struggle too.
https://gfycat.com/rectangularflusteredirukandjijellyfish
VS.
https://gfycat.com/speedymellowamericanpainthorse-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550338]
Spencer Howard’s Changeup vs. Eli Morgan’s Changeup
One of the best pitching prospects in the game, Spencer Howard’s arsenal features an incredible fastball and well-above-average breaking stuff. It’s the changeup, however, that separates him as a true pitcher with ace potential. This thing has devastating late movement and gets guys way out in front with ease, as seen here. 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.
https://gfycat.com/frighteningopendodobird-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/narrowmixedblackfish-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550339]
Mackenzie Gore’s Fastball vs. Shane Baz’s Fastball
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. Shane Baz’s heat may not have a radar gun on it, but it reportedly comes in around 94-96 and has some wicked arm side run, which he exploits here to get this thing to run right back onto the outside corner of the plate. Few hitters alive will do much with a spot like that.
https://gfycat.com/delayedgrotesquefishingcat
VS.
https://gfycat.com/thosealertkarakul
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550341]
Kyle Muller’s Curveball vs. Joey Wentz’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. Joey Wentz is another left-hander who doesn’t get his due in a loaded farm system, this time with the Tigers. Wentz just went under the knife for TJS, but he’ll be back in 2021 along with his nasty curveball.
https://gfycat.com/honestnextafricangroundhornbill-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/plumpblackandwhitecub
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550342]
Sixto Sanchez’s Changeup vs. Jackson Kowar’s Changeup
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. Camera angles are not Jackson Kowar’s friend on this offering, but he made quick work of Cardinals stud Dylan Carlson on three pitches in this at-bat, earning a respect head nod from the future star outfielder. That should tell you enough.
https://gfycat.com/alarmingarcticfairyfly-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/harmlessfancygartersnake
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550343]
Drew Rasmussen’s Slider vs. Alex Faedo’s Slider
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. Alex Faedo’s prospect status has faded in the past year or so, but he had a renaissance season in 2019 and still looks the part of a back end starter. Pitches like this slider buried down and away are a big reason why he should still find success at the next level.
https://gfycat.com/pitifulfeminineglowworm-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/necessaryglamorousbeaver
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550346]
Ian Anderson’s Curveball vs. Forrest Whitley’s Fastball
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. Forrest Whitley had a year to forget on the mound for the Astros, but the big right-hander still has an electric fastball that, when located up in the zone, is nearly unhittable.
https://gfycat.com/frenchquarrelsomekitty
VS.
https://gfycat.com/backmediocreharrierhawk-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10550348]