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 GIF of the First Quarter Contest. 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.
Zack Wheeler’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/lazysimpleegg
Zack Wheeler is set to get paid this winter if he can stay healthy and keep throwing disgustingly hard sliders such as this one. Juan Soto gets so tied up trying to hold back on the 92 mph breaking ball that his swing takes him to the ground.
Luis Castillo’s Two-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/miniatureamusingflamingo
Luis Castillo has an amazing combination of velocity and movement that keeps hitters off balance. This fastball moves almost as much as his changeup but comes in at 97 mph. With two pitches moving so dramatically about 9 mph apart, even hitters such as Kris Bryant end up whiffing.
Marcus Stroman’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/hardtofindbetteramericancurl
Marcus Stroman is so fun to watch partially because it’s easy to see how much fun he has playing baseball. Stroman’s little hop of exuberance after this disgusting changeup to Yoan Moncada is a nice cherry on top of the strikeout sundae.
Homer Bailey’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/orangegrandioseantlion
I didn’t realize Homer Bailey was in Kansas City this year, but he certainly opened my eyes with his repertoire yesterday. Bailey showed a tight knuckle-curveball and good command of his fastball, but his best finishing pitch is a nosediving splitter like this one to Nomar Mazara.
Alex Colome’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/totalwelllithorsefly
Alex Colome spotted this cutter to Billy McKinney perfectly on the outside corner for the strikeout. Colome’s cutter misses bats with its drastic downward movement.
Touki Toussaint’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/offbeatglisteninghamadryas
The Braves rotation is so crowded that Touki Toussaint is now pitching out of the bullpen. His stuff is certainly good enough for the bullpen, but I hope the plan is still to eventually have him start games. This curveball to Paul DeJong is one of three pitches that could end up at least plus. The slow motion cut of this pitch is a mesmerizing parabola.
Spencer Turnbull’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/richcarefreegavial-baseball
Spencer Turnbull got hit up yesterday, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. Turnbull has actually been a bright spot for the struggling Tigers, using good command of his fastball and a tight curve to get hitters out. Matt Chapman was left frozen as this pitch just touches the outside black. OK, maybe the pitch is just off the plate, but it’s a good frame job and certainly too close to take and be comfortable.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Quarter Contest.
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