It’s all about velocity.
And elite velocity is the holy grail.
Nonetheless, there’s often a worth to be paid.
The flexibility to command a fastball that approaches triple-digit mph with motion actually isn’t straightforward to harness. Actually, it’s downright uncommon. In any case, how vital is command when you can merely zip the heater by opposing hitters?
Of the quickest pitches thrown this season by common mph, now we have to go all the way in which right down to the thirteenth – Seattle Mariners reliever Gregory Santos’ 98.9 mph two-seam fastball – earlier than we see a pitch with above-average command+.
Command+, for which the MLB common is 100, permits us to make a distinction between pitchers who’re throwing balls as a result of they’re scuffling with command and people who are purposefully lacking the plate in an effort to get hitters out.
If we widen our search to the 100 pitches with the highest-average mph, solely 16 pitchers have a command+ above the league common on these choices. On the flip facet, of the 100 pitches with the very best command+, solely three common greater than 96.0 mph.
So it turns into obvious simply how devastating a pitcher may be if he’s in a position to successfully mix elite command with excessive velocity. However what number of of those mound unicorns exist?
Let’s attempt to discover out by figuring out the pitchers who’ve each a whiff+ – the power to generate swings and misses – and command+ of a minimum of 105 on a pitch sort (minimal 200 pitches) whereas throwing it above 96.0 mph on common (the common fastball throughout MLB is 93.8 mph heading into Thursday’s motion).
There are solely seven pitchers who meet these {qualifications} whereas additionally proudly owning a uncooked value- (RV-) below 95 (decrease is healthier with 100 being league common) to present us an total indication of efficiency on the pitch. RV- measures a pitcher’s means to get hitters to chase, restrict contact and generate mushy contact.
Right here’s the checklist of the elite energy pitches which have a command+ and whiff+ of 105 or better, an RV- of 95 or higher and a mean velocity of a minimum of 96.0 mph, ordered by the highest command+.
Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins
- Pitch Sort: 4-Seam Fastball
- Common Velocity: 97.0
- Whiff+: 143
- Command+: 115
Jax has blossomed as a high-leverage setup man for the Twins and his four-seam fastball is a giant motive why. Although it’s a secondary pitch for him (29.5% utilization in comparison with 37.9% for his sweeper), the right-hander’s uncooked value- (RV-) of 46 on the four-seamer is the most effective of this checklist and greater than 50% higher than league common. RV- measures a pitcher’s means to get hitters to chase, restrict contact and generate mushy contact. Decrease is healthier with 100 being league common. And his strike+, which measures a pitcher’s means to generate each whiffs and known as strikes, on the pitch leads this group at 115, although more often than not he tries to get a excessive chase on it (like beneath).
Yimi Garcia, Seattle Mariners
- Pitch Sort: 4-Seam Fastball
- Common Velocity: 96.5
- Whiff+: 215
- Command+: 114
Garcia was thought of to be one of many high relievers obtainable on the MLB commerce deadline when the Mariners acquired him from the Toronto Blue Jays. The correct-hander’s finest trait as a late-inning setup man is his means to rack up swings and misses. His whiff+ is definitely the very best on this checklist and greater than twice the league common. A 96.5 mph common, 215 whiff+ and 114 command+ on a four-seam fastball is a reasonably ridiculous mixture. It’s his go-to pitch with two strikes (52.2%), often up and out of the zone.
Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Pitch Sort: 4-Seam Fastball
- Common Velocity: 98.9
- Whiff+: 153
- Command+: 108
Right here’s proof that Skenes is already extra of a well-rounded pitcher than a thrower who’s simply trying to blow folks away. Remarkably, the rookie All-Star starter owns the quickest pitch on this checklist whereas additionally possessing a nicely above-average command+. And what additionally units the four-seamer aside is the horizontal motion with arm-side run than conventional backspin rise. On common, it’s eighth by way of the pitches with the very best common velo. General, he’s sixth within the league with 11.3 Ok/9 amongst these with a minimum of 90 innings.
Will Vest, Detroit Tigers
- Pitch Sort: 4-Seam Fastball
- Common Velocity: 96.0
- Whiff+: 118
- Command+: 108
For greater than a three-month interval, Vest was top-of-the-line relievers in baseball. The correct-hander was sixth within the majors with simply 0.24 house runs allowed per 9 innings, tied for ninth in holds with seven and tenth with a 2.13 ERA amongst these with a minimum of 38.0 innings between Could 1 and Aug. 6. He leans closely on his four-seamer, throwing it 54.8% of the time and peppering it everywhere in the zone. His 122 strike+ on the pitch is the very best of anybody on this checklist.
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
- Pitch Sort: 4-Seam Fastball
- Common Velocity: 96.4
- Whiff+: 146
- Command+: 106
Skubal has one attribute that arguably places him forward of the remaining… he’s left-handed. The All-Star has change into the ace of Detroit’s rotation, pacing MLB with 14 victories and rating second in strikeouts (180) and third in ERA (2.53). Thanks largely to his blazing four-seamer, which he can shove at or round triple-digits (like beneath), Skubal additionally leads the majors with a 125 strike+ and sits second with a 133 whiff+.
Dedniel Nunez, New York Mets
- Pitch Sort: 4-Seam Fastball
- Common Velocity: 96.3
- Whiff+: 162
- Command+: 106
Earlier than touchdown on the injured checklist in late July, the rookie right-hander had earned his approach into a significant position within the Mets’ bullpen. He had a 2.43 ERA and a stellar 0.93 WHIP whereas rating twenty first in MLB with 12.2 Ok/9 amongst these with a minimum of 33.0 innings. After all, the four-seamer is a giant weapon with the second-best whiff+ out of this group and the third-best RV- (52).
Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds
- Pitch Sort: 4-Seam Fastball
- Common Velocity: 97.6
- Whiff+: 146
- Command+: 105
Greene has taken steps in 2024 towards reaching his immense potential, changing into an All-Star for the primary time and rating second in total RV- (59). His four-seamer has been key to his emergence, growing from a high-velocity fastball to one of the invaluable pitches in baseball. Actually, it ranks third within the majors in collected uncooked worth (-19.9) behind the sliders of Atlanta Braves lefty Chris Sale (-22.4) and San Diego Padres righty Dylan Stop (-20.1).
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