Forget This Pitch! Week 3
Every week we’ll be looking at some MLB pitches that get absolutely destroyed.
This weekly article will look at some poorly performing pitches that batters take full advantage of. Not every selection is going to be a home run. It can be extra-base hits or hard-hit singles. Our criteria are that the pitch didn’t go as planned, with negative consequences.
We do our best to provide you with some information on the pitcher and the pitch. For example, how the pitch should have performed and been executed. Also, if possible, we’ll provide the spin rate of the pitch.
Does the pitcher have control issues, or is this a new pitch he’s working on, or did he just miss? We’ll also point out the location of the pitch, where the catcher wants it, and where it ends up.
Let’s get into it.
Finally, Figuring it out?
Jarred Kelenic got off to a very rough start for the Seattle Mariners. That’s putting it nicely. A quick summation, he got called up and struggled to the tune of a .096 batting average before being sent down. Months later he returned and performed a bit better. So far this year it’s been a struggle for him again. However, over the past week, he’s started to pick things up at the plate. For example, here he is on #ForgetThisPitch crushing a Jon Gray mistake for a homer.
Texas’ catcher calls for a Gray fastball low and away against Kelenic. Gray “clearly” knowing better throws a 93mph fastball up and in. Kelenic says “Forget this pitch” as soon as his bat connects with the ball. Sending the pitch out of the ballpark at 110 mph. Gray’s fastball is currently operating at its second-lowest spin rate (2033). Subsequently, it’s at its lowest whiff % (6.9) and put away % (4.2) per Baseball Savant.
Jarred Kelenic with a LASER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Eqf444FpSE
— ROOT SPORTS™ | NW (@ROOTSPORTS_NW) April 20, 2022
Next: Page 2 – Revenge and some luck