We’ve seen so many good pitches thrown by MLB hurlers in 2023, but the one pitch type I’m all about this year is the sweeper.
We’ve seen Shohei Ohtani fool hitters with one, a pitch that breaks horizontally and looks incredible. We’ve seen ballparks call it a “slutter” — a slider and cutter, combined — but the sweeper term is the way to go.
Rob Friedman at @PitchingNinja featured one from Tampa Bay Rays reliever Kevin Kelly, and whew, it’s awesome looking outside before it whizzes its way back over the plate for a strike on the corner.
This is so so cool:
Kevin Kelly, Perfect 77mph Back Door Sweeper. ☑️
21 inches of horizontal break. pic.twitter.com/FwN0lS1hLg
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 20, 2023