Which are the hardest pitches to hit in baseball? Everything you need to know

Baseball is one of the most enjoyable sports to watch and play. However, certain complexities emerge when it comes to playing. Starting and relief pitchers are tasked with the role of putting the ball in motion in a baseball game. This article details the role of a batter or hitter and some of the hardest pitches to hit.

What are the hardest pitches to hit? The ability to throw a pitch at maximum effort, is not only determined by a player's talent but also by factors such as speed, the location and movement of the ball. Scroll down for a deep dive into the world of baseball and discover the mysteries that surround pitching.

What are the hardest pitches to hit?

According to the MLB, there are 14 pitching types commonly used by professional road game players. Some of the relatively hard pitches to hit in baseball include the sinker, changeup, screwball, and forkball.

Different types of baseball throws can be used by a pitcher to gain an advantage over the hitter. Additionally, pitchers have been known to keep unpredictable throws that find the batter off guard in their arsenals.

What are the top 5 hardest pitches to hit in baseball?

Sports Brief has combed through existing data from reputable publications to give a comprehensive report on the hardest pitch to hit in MLB. Here is a list of the top five toughest pitches to hit.

The fastball

A favourite of baseball legend Babe Ruth, this pitch is typically thrown at high speeds to catch the hitter off guard. Over the course of history, the speeds have increased from 90 miles per hour (144.8 kilometres per hour) up to 104 miles per hour (167.3 kilometres per hour).

The best fastball pitchers of all time

Coupled with speed, this pitch is thrown in a tight spin, making it difficult for the hitter to predict or track the ball's movement. The four-seam fastball is the most effective fastball, which has a higher velocity with a backspin that increases its unpredictability. The best fastball pitchers of all time include:

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Baseball

The splitter

The splitter or split-finger fastball is thrown by gripping the ball. To throw a splitter, a hurler grips the ball with two fingers, forming a V shape on opposite sides of the ball. Because of its slower velocity and sharp drop, hitters often bat early, missing the pitch or with weaker contact.

Famous players who used the splitter

The splitter ranks highly among professional baseball players in difficulty and is mainly used by Japanese pitchers. Its deceptive appearance as a fastball makes it more unpredictable, causing batters to miss the hit. It is also one of the hardest pitches to throw. Famous players who used the splitters are:

The curveball

A typical curveball features a downward break as it nears the plate. Masters of the curveball throw the pitch by spinning and snapping the wrist. It can also be thrown as a fast or slow ball, reaching speeds between 12 miles per hour (19.3 kilometres per hour) and 80 miles per hour (128.7 kilometres per hour).

Who are the best curveball pitchers?

Like the idiom to throw a curve, the curveball is meant to trick the batter with something unexpected. On the other hand, a botched curveball, known as a hanging curve or a hanger, does not break as much and moves in a straight trajectory with a slower velocity, which is much easier for the batter to hit. These are some of the best curveball pitchers:

The slider

Much like a football, a slider is thrown with a combination of forward spin and gyro. When throwing it, the hurler snaps and spins their wrists, generating spin. It is a hard throw characterised by speed and a late and sharp break away from the batter, making it easy for batters to miscalculate and miss hitting the ball.

Who throws the best slider in baseball?

A great slider is the physical embodiment of the word 'mind-bending.' How these pitchers get a baseball to move the way they do will never fully be understood. It is better to sit back and watch. Here are five of the best sliders in baseball:

The knuckleball

When making this pitch, knuckleballers hold the ball with their knuckles on or just above it and nails digging into the ball. The knuckleball is favoured among professional players for its deceptive movement and unpredictability.

Who are the best knuckleball pitchers?

Hit with little or no spin, the knuckleball is a slow throw that exhibits fluttery or dance-like movement. It also changes direction as it nears the plate. For this reason, it is also known as the flutter ball or dancing knuckleball. These are some of the best knuckleball pitchers:

Final word

Professional pitchers develop individualised playing styles over the course of their careers. These styles involve the use of some of the hardest pitches to hit that give them an advantage over the opposing team's hitter or batter.

Sports Brief has published an article on the roles and responsibilities of a pinch hitter in baseball. The term pinch hitter refers to a substitute hitter in games such as baseball and softball.

Major League Baseball has rules that govern pinch hitters and substitution during a baseball match. Click the link above to discover everything about pinch hitters and substitution rules.