Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. We want to bring you the highest caliber of nastiness possible, so if you see a nasty pitch, please tell us about it. You can tweet @PitcherList to let us know and we’ll give you a shout-out here in the article if your tip makes the cut.
As a bonus for PL+ members, let us know about a pitch on the PL+ Discord in the Nasty Pitches Channel, and if your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free T-shirt!
Jeurys Familia’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/unlinedunselfishcapeghostfrog
How often do you see a 98 MPH back foot sinker that explodes towards the plate like this one? Not often, and that’s why Jeurys Familia is the lead today. Kevan Smith didn’t stand a chance.
Kyle Hendricks‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/groundedterriblehare
Speaking of not standing a chance, Aristides Aquino couldn’t believe how this ball kept going, and going, and going, and going, and going, and going inside. That thing had more movement than the energizer bunny with four AAs and a couple D batteries in it. Talk about juice.
Shohei Ohtani’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/unlinedmeatyborer
Shohei Ohtani is the most electric baseball player in the world right now. I’d argue he’s the most electric athlete in the world, period. Yes, he threw 100 MPH on his 99th pitch last night (that really happened), but this slider completely ate up Raimel Tapia and was the “nastier” of the two pitches.
100 MPH on pitch 99.
Shohei Ohtani is not human. pic.twitter.com/qNDCpUi3mj
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2021
Luis Garcia’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/linearglisteningdotterel
Similar to Kyle Hendricks‘ nasty changeup, Luis Garcia presented us with this unfair offering to lefty Shed Long Jr. that also kept going and go… you get it.
Tony Santillan’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/lamedetailedleonberger
This was about as perfect of a pitch as you can throw. Look where the catcher sets up, and look where Tony Santillan throws the pitch. The ball starts off heading straight for the glove and then just dives away from the batter like it saw a ghost and is running for the hills. If I were a baseball I sure wouldn’t want to get hit by Kris Bryant’s bat.
José Alvarado’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/ethicalthatgemsbok
I wish we had a better camera angle for this pitch, because José Alvarado’s sinker gets a ton of arm-side movement and I’m willing to bet this would be a Nastiest Pitch of the Month contender if we could just see it. Alas, we have to be content with a mediocre angle and just enjoy pure filthy velocity overpowering a very talented hitter in Gerardo Parra.
Marcus Stroman’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/sociableunequaledcub
If you haven’t set up your DVR every five days for the Stro Show you’re missing out, friend. Sure, he earned the loss after giving up two runs in five pretty average innings, but he’s a joy to watch on the mound and he’ll still drop filth like this no matter the opponent. I don’t care if Nick think’s he’s a “TOBY”, I’m still going to roster him and fire him up every five days.
Caleb Thielbar’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/cleanclearcutbackswimmer
Known more for his devastating slow curve, Meat Raffle AKAÂ Caleb Thielbar also throws a nasty slider that looks like it should be going 90+ MPH based on the amount of effort in his delivery. The slider is a devastating weapon against lefties, with a 37.5% CSW compared to a 25.2% CSW against righties. He’s a guy I’d love to see the Red Sox make a deadline deal for.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)