Is a splitter a good pitch?

The split-finger fastball is a very effective pitch with runners on base. A common tactic is using the split-finger to cause the batter to hit into a double play. When thrown correctly, the split-finger’s apparent last second drop causes many batters to hit the top half of the baseball therefore inducing a ground ball.

What is the difference between a splitter and a sinker?

The sinker has more side spin than the traditional fastball and tends to have both downward and arm side movement. The splitter has much less spin than the average fastball and only moves downward — although it can sometimes move slightly to the arm side.

How does a splitter spin?

Splitters, like changeups and sinking fastballs, have some backspin that comes from the ball snapping or rolling off the pitcher’s fingers. Splitters, changeups, and sinkers also have sidespin from the pitcher turning the ball over with his middle finger against the ball as he pronates just prior to release.

Who has the best splitter in the MLB?

Ohtani’s splitter is generating the highest swing-and-miss rate of any individual pitch in MLB. Ohtani has ramped up his splitter velocity this season, and that’s made it filthier than ever.

What pitches are illegal in baseball?

This seems to meet the definition of “illegal pitch” in the MLB rulebook, which reads, “An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher does not have his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate; (2) a quick return pitch. An illegal pitch when runners are on base is a balk.”

Is throwing a splitter bad for your arm?

Hold a baseball with a splitter grip. Right away, you’ll notice the extra tension it puts on your elbow and forearm when compared to a fastball grip. 2010 was a good year health-wise for splitter-throwing pitchers. Penny accounted for nearly half the time missed, and his injury was an oblique strain.

Who has the best splitter in baseball?

Is a splitter hard to throw?

Conclusion. The splitter, or split-finger fastball, is a truly devastating pitch when executed properly. It is thrown just like a fastball is, and it actually comes out of a pitcher’s hand looking like a fastball, too, only to drop hard down just as the pitch is approaching the plate.

Is a splitter bad for your arm?

Hold a baseball with a splitter grip. Right away, you’ll notice the extra tension it puts on your elbow and forearm when compared to a fastball grip. From 2010-13, there have been about 15 starting pitchers per season who use their splitter with at least a ten percent frequency.

What does it mean when a pitcher throws a splitter?

Definition A pitcher throws a splitter by gripping the ball with his two fingers “split” on opposite sides of the ball. When thrown with the effort of a fastball, the splitter will drop sharply as it nears home plate.

What is the grip of a splitter pitch?

The splitter comes in with tight rotation and good velocity and dives straight down at the last second. The grip is similar to the two-seam fastball, but with the fingers spread farther apart to change the rotation and add break. This pitch is generally not thrown for strikes, but to coax a swing and miss.

Why is a splitter called a split finger fastball?

When thrown with the effort of a fastball, the splitter will drop sharply as it nears home plate. Splitters are often referred to as “split-finger fastballs,” but because of their break and lower velocity, they don’t hold much in common with a typical fastball.

Who is the inventor of the splitter in baseball?

The modern splitter is often credited to baseball coach Fred Martin who threw the pitch in the minor leagues as a changeup of sorts. When a young Bruce Sutter returned from surgery to find his fastball had lost velocity, Martin taught Sutter the pitch.