No batter out there wants to fall behind in the count, but that is especially true when they’re facing a pitcher like the Mariners’ Matt Brash.
It almost never ends well for the hitter.
In just his second year in the big leagues, Brash has proved himself as an electric arm out of the Mariners bullpen. He’s striking out 16 batters per nine innings, and he boasts a filthy slider and knuckle curveball to go along with a fastball near triple digits. The pitch made a devastating impression on Jose Ramirez during Opening Day.
During the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game between the Mariners and Twins, it was Willi Castro’s turn to look silly against that knuckle curve.
Matt Brash, Ridiculous 88mph Knuckle Curve. 😲 pic.twitter.com/KFiwrOVN52
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 26, 2023
With Brash ahead in the count at 1-2, the Mariners pitcher unleashed that knuckle curveball after three straight fastballs. Castro wasn’t ready at all for that kind of movement. He swung at the pitch even as the ball broke between his legs. The pitch was 88 mph with 42 inches of vertical break and 13 inches of horizontal run.
That’s just not fair, especially when you just saw a 99 mph fastball a pitch earlier.
No wonder MLB fans were in awe of that knuckle curveball. Between the legs should count as an extra strikeout.