What’s up all people!
I’m within the midst of releasing my annual pitch evaluate collection the place I have a look again on the 5 greatest pitches of every pitch sort from 2024, as ranked by PLV. Right now, I’m looking on the 5 greatest fastballs from final yr.
In the event you’d like a better take a look at what this collection is about, take a look at the primary article within the collection on the 5 greatest changeups of 2024, and likewise take a look at my 5 greatest curveballs of 2024 and the perfect cutters of 2024 as effectively. And for those who’d like an in-depth primer on what PLV is and the way it works, test it out right here.
Additionally a fast be aware for this piece that’s totally different than years’ previous, I’m grouping four-seam fastballs and sinkers collectively on this article as “fastballs” since they’re each underneath the identical class.
Anyway, let’s dive into the 5 greatest fastballs of 2024!
5. George Kirby
George Kirby throws each a four-seamer and a sinker, however that is his sinker we’re speaking about, which ranked forward of his four-seamer in PLV and labored effectively final yr.
Kirby had his third stable season in a row with a 3.53 ERA (which consider it or not was a profession worst so far), a 1.07 WHIP, and a 23% strikeout charge over 191 innings, and this sinker was an enormous a part of his arsenal.
Kirby throws the sinker excessive and gloveside greater than you would possibly anticipate, utilizing it as a backdoor pitch to righties and a jam pitch to lefties. It is available in round 96 MPH with a very good little bit of horizontal motion and can also be a pitch Kirby utilized in two-strike counts simply over 1 / 4 of the time.
And the pitch labored too—it had a rock stable 34.1% ICR towards it (good for sixty fifth percentile amongst sinkers) and a .284 wOBA towards it, and even acquired hitters to chase, posting a 32.2% chase charge, which is fairly darn good for a sinker.
Sadly as I’m certain you’re already conscious, Kirby is slated to being the season on the IL due to shoulder irritation, which is at all times a scary factor to listen to for a pitcher. Hopefully he’ll have the ability to get better rapidly and we’ll see him pitching once more quickly.
4. Shota Imanaga
I don’t know that you may’ve requested for a greater first season within the majors from Shota Imanaga, with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP with a 25.1% strikeout charge and a 4% stroll charge in 173.1 innings.
Imanaga form of takes the old fashioned Kevin Gausman method with a fastball/splitter combo that dominates most of his begins. The fastball isn’t particularly quick, coming in at simply 91.4 MPH on common, nevertheless it is available in fairly flat with a 1.4 diploma height-adjusted VAA and most significantly, he throws it for strikes, with a 54.9% zone charge final yr (79th percentile amongst fastballs). And even when hitters do make contact with it, they don’t do a lot with it, posting only a 38.3% ICR and .319 wOBA towards the pitch final yr.
And alongside that fastball is the splitter, which works nice as a swing-and-miss pitch, posting a 50.1% chase charge, 32.4% CSW, and 27.3% swinging-strike charge final yr. Imanaga additionally throws a sweeper that will get some swings and misses as effectively and works effectively as a 3rd pitch with the fastball and splitter.
I don’t essentially assume Imanaga will repeat his unimaginable season from final yr, however he’s completely an excellent pitcher who ought to proceed to be excellent this season.
3. Alex Vesia
Having Alex Vesia on an inventory of the perfect fastballs in all of baseball would possibly shock you, however for those who learn final yr’s model of this text, you’d do not forget that Vesia really topped the record.
Vesia had a significantly better season final yr than the yr earlier than, posting a 1.76 ERA out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in 66.1 innings with a 33.1% strikeout charge, and this fastball is an enormous motive why.
Vesia primarily employs a fastball/slider combo on the mound, throwing this fastball 63% of the time. The pitch solely is available in at 93.4 MPH nevertheless it comes with a really unimaginable quantity of vert—19.7 inches to be actual, which is among the many most vert any fastball in your complete league will get. And on prime of that, it is available in at a very good angle with a 1.2 diploma height-adjusted VAA.
Vesia often locates his fastball up within the zone (as he ought to given its form) and usually armside, jamming up lefties and maintaining the pitch away to righties. Vesia’s fastball is nice at inducing weak contact, as opposing hitters had only a .286 wOBA and 35.1% ICR towards the pitch final yr and even will get an honest quantity of chases with a 29.9% chase charge final yr (which is excessive for a fastball).
Vesia’s fastball remained probably the greatest within the sport final yr and he posted a pleasant rebound season out of the bullpen too. Right here’s hoping we are able to see extra of the identical.
2. Josh Hader
In the event you’ve been following Josh Hader’s profession it needs to be no shock that his sinker is among the greatest within the sport and finally ends up on this record.
After posting an unimaginable rebound season in 2023 with a 1.28 ERA over 56.1 innings for the Padres, Hader struggled a bit once more final yr, posting a 3.80 ERA, albeit with 34 saves and an unimaginable 37.8% strikeout charge.
It wasn’t the sinker’s fault although—the pitch posted wonderful numbers, together with a 34.9% chase charge (eightieth percentile amongst sinkers), 17.7% swinging-strike charge (99th percentile) and a 32.4% ICR towards (67th percentile). Whereas the rate has declined barely in recent times, Hader’s sinker has not gotten much less efficient.
1. Jeremiah Estrada
“Wait, who?” you may be asking for those who’re not a Padres fan. Jeremiah Estrada’s four-seamer was killer final yr and charges as the perfect fastball within the league for us.
Estrada had a fantastic yr out of the bullpen for the Padres final yr, posting a 2.95 ERA with a ridiculous 37.3% strikeout charge over 61 innings and logging 16 holds within the course of.
Estrada usually throws three pitches, main along with his fastball and including in his slider and splitter. The fastball is available in at 98.7 MPH on common with an unimaginable 18.7 inches of vert (98th percentile amongst fastballs) and a 1.3 diploma height-adjusted VAA (74th percentile). So far as the form of a fastball, you couldn’t ask for significantly better.
The pitch labored superbly too, posting a 36.7% chase charge (93rd percentile amongst fastballs), a 30.7% CSW (71st percentile), and a 35.5% ICR (71st percentile). Estrada’s fastball posted some unimaginable outcomes and is well-deserved to be listed among the many greatest fastballs within the league.
