No batter out there wants to fall behind in the count, but that is especially true when they’re facing a pitcher like the Mariners’ Matt Brash.
It almost never ends well for the hitter.
In just his second year in the big leagues, Brash has proved himself as an electric arm out of the Mariners bullpen. He’s striking out 16 batters per nine innings, and he boasts a filthy slider and knuckle curveball to go along with a fastball near triple digits. The pitch made a devastating impression on Jose Ramirez during Opening Day.
During the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game between the Mariners and Twins, it was Willi Castro’s turn to look silly against that knuckle curve.
Matt Brash, Ridiculous 88mph Knuckle Curve. 😲 pic.twitter.com/KFiwrOVN52
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 26, 2023
With Brash ahead in the count at 1-2, the Mariners pitcher unleashed that knuckle curveball after three straight fastballs. Castro wasn’t ready at all for that kind of movement. He swung at the pitch even as the ball broke between his legs. The pitch was 88 mph with 42 inches of vertical break and 13 inches of horizontal run.
That’s just not fair, especially when you just saw a 99 mph fastball a pitch earlier.
No wonder MLB fans were in awe of that knuckle curveball. Between the legs should count as an extra strikeout.
This was how Twitter reacted
Did not realize this was a nutmeg https://t.co/1dyLeN388h
— The Chaos Ball Podcast (@ChaosBall1977) July 26, 2023
This is a magic trick. https://t.co/DtllYUqydC
— Andrew Hammond (@ahammALDC) July 26, 2023
I’ve watched this 87 times https://t.co/PAOESFiBQ4
— Christine (@ItsChristineEM) July 26, 2023
This is the most disgusting pitch I’ve ever seen period. https://t.co/Oo22B5tS2d
— Navy the Kobalts Fan (@KobaltsNavy) July 26, 2023
pic.twitter.com/w9lSiTnDEc https://t.co/no1zJQyjr4
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) July 26, 2023
Thats a cartoon pitch, he got him to swing at a ball between his feet https://t.co/6a4r8REmd6
— Vinsanity (@beefcake_180) July 26, 2023
Bro really nutmegged him https://t.co/IWitbLwPdt
— Dallas (@dalsharp) July 26, 2023
buddy coulda pulled a muscle up there https://t.co/twc7Krbo09
— meg (@VelocitybyVolpe) July 26, 2023
First ever 7-10 split Strike? https://t.co/uJpxA9n4Kx
— Jason Elliott (@AceDeck318) July 26, 2023
Bro got megged by a curveball AND wrung up for the sword 😭😂 filthy, filthy breaker https://t.co/D0wR53Deis
— gino. (@MuellerGino) July 26, 2023
Idk how MLB hitters do it lol https://t.co/mt6o8qElTG
— J. West (@justin_west5) July 26, 2023
I need someone to explain the physics of Brash’s pitching https://t.co/XTqVDd8oBn
— EB (@EB_UW_) July 26, 2023
