A few weeks ago, I was watching a baseball game. The starting pitcher did a good job on the mound. However, his fastball isn’t really fast. Most of the time, his four-seamers didn’t touch 90 mph in a game.
After watching the game, I was just wondering if some pitchers had done the same previously. To solve my doubt, I decided to check on the statcast website.
To make things easier, I only look at the stats from 2021 to 2024. Steve Cishek pitched in the majors from 2010 to 2022. He threw 700+ innings in his career. The four-seam fastball isn’t Cishek’s primary pitch. He used it 19.6% of the time in 2021 and in 2022, he threw his four-seamer 28.3% of the time. And the average velocity of his four-seamers was below 90 mph in those 2 seasons. However, opponents didn’t hit well against his four-seamers. When Cishek’s four-seamers were less than or equal to 90 mph, opponents’ batting average was only .127.
In addition, Nestor Cortes was traded to the Brewers last December. Before that, he pitched for the Yankees from 2021 to 2024. And he was selected to the All-Star game in 2022. Four-seamer is Cortes’ primary pitch. Over the last 4 years, he used it at least 42.8% of the time each season. In particular, he threw his four-seamer more than 50% of the time in 2023. Cortes doesn’t throw it really hard with an average velocity below 92 mph. From 2021 to 2024, when his four-seamers were less or equal to 90 mph, opponents’ batting average was below .200.
Cody Bradford made his MLB debut in 2023. He hasn’t pitched any games in 2025 due to an injury. In 2023 and 2024, Bradford threw his four-seamer more than 50% of the time, but he’s not a flame thrower. Over the last 2 seasons, when Bradford’s four-seamers were less or equal to 90 mph, opponents hit .208.
Also, Noe Ramirez pitched in the majors from 2015 to 2022. In 2021 and 2022, he threw his four-seamer more than 37% of the time. And opponents’ batting average against his four-seamers was below .200 in those 2 seasons. Average velocity of his four-seamers was below 90 mph. When Noe Ramirez threw a four-seamer, which is less than or equal to 90 mph, opponents’ batting average was .209.
Finally, Tyson Miller made his MLB debut in 2020, but he didn’t pitch in 2021. From 2022 to 2024, when Miller’s four-seamers were less than or equal to 90 mph, opponents’ batting average was below .220. From 2021 to 2023, when Madison Bumgarner’s four-seamers were less than or equal to 90 mph, opponents’ batting average was below .220 as well.
Pitchers are throwing hard these days. However, some pitchers don’t throw really hard. As we can see, some pitchers actually can pitch in the majors with a four-seamer that isn’t really fast. Steve Cishek didn’t rely much on his four-seamer. He was still able to utilize his four-seamer with his unique delivery. Also, Nestor Cortes’ delivery is quite unique and impressive. He frequently throws his four-seamer, which didn’t always touch 90 mph, but it still worked over the last few seasons.
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