Despite being a massive disappointment in 2023, the Kansas City Royals are at least heading into the offseason with some positive momentum. They’ve won 10 of their past 12 games and still have Zack Greinke being Zack Greinke on the mound.
Even in his 20th MLB season, Greinke remains one of the more unique pitchers and personalities in baseball. Like, who else would shake off his own pitch call? Nobody. He’s one of a kind. That also applies to his pitch velocity — nothing about it needs to make sense.
Typically, a pitcher will throw a changeup to change speeds on a batter. It looks like a fastball out of the hand, but a drop in velocity and sharper movement is supposed to throw off the batter. On Tuesday, Greinke threw a changeup that was FASTER than his fastball. With Greinke, rules don’t matter.
Zack Greinke, 87mph Fastball and 88mph Changeup.
It doesn't have to make sense, if it's Zack Greinke. pic.twitter.com/tkOlmpvTqz
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 27, 2023
Now, this didn’t happen in the same at-bat. But it’s hilarious to see his fastball and changeup both settling in the high 80s. Last season, he matched velocities with those two pitches in one at-bat … also against the Tigers.
Either way, it worked wonders because Greinke went five innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball before the Royals bullpen let the game get away from them.
Fans also loved seeing that fastball-changeup combo from Greinke. He must be protected at all costs.
This was how Twitter reacted
I think of Zack Greinke in the same context Hunter S. Thompson described Dr. Gonzo – "too weird to live and too rare to die". https://t.co/0HTaXLEiZC
— Seth Poho (@sethpoho) September 27, 2023
legend https://t.co/JuTglc4rjz
— Gilbert G (@gilbertg12) September 27, 2023
Request to waive the 5 year wait period for the HoF https://t.co/6mdtzQtwe1
— Josh Sadlock (@JoshSadlock) September 27, 2023
Greinke is not a known follower of rules. https://t.co/ZnWLjGqKip
— Jason Brinkmeier (@JBrink90) September 27, 2023
I’m convinced Greinke has one 95mph fastball left in him and he’s gonna throw it on the last pitch of his career.
He’ll set it up with a changeup the pitch before and it’s gonna stun everyone and be awesome. https://t.co/VTFPzdJwDJ
— Ian Vescera (@Ian_Vescera) September 27, 2023
Art in motion 🤙🏼 https://t.co/blML9qGiOI
— Andrew (@Themachac) September 27, 2023
I really hope this isn’t the last game of Zack Greinke’s career https://t.co/ZtnHUIPPrx
— Bill Ellis (@BillEllisLaw) September 27, 2023
I love this man. https://t.co/jwe3vULc5b
— Josh Logue (@jmlogue) September 27, 2023
I’m gonna miss these after Greinke is gone https://t.co/CVIlf6T8oo
— Gambeezy (@JacobGamboa12) September 27, 2023
