It remains ridiculous that Major League Baseball players are capable of hitting some of the pitches they see these days. It seems impossible. At least it should be impossible, especially when you’re dealing with a 98 mph sinker from Clay Holmes.
The Yankees closer got his second save of the season on Saturday when he shut the door against the Baltimore Orioles. And his approach to Orioles rookie Gunnar Henderson was just unfair.
Holmes got Henderson to strike out on three pitches, and that third strike came on a 98 mph sinker that appeared to be heading inside towards the batter before sharply breaking back over the plate.
Clay Holmes, Unfair 98mph Front Door Two Seamer. 😲 pic.twitter.com/HIvrvmPZkY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 9, 2023
I’m not sure what else Henderson could have done there. You can really just stand and watch a pitch like that.
MLB fans were justifiably impressed with that frisbee-like sinker.
This was how Twitter reacted
Hardest pitch (strike) to hit in the game https://t.co/SS5RyYgMRQ
— Jack Thompson (@123JackT) April 9, 2023
Perfect look at the spin and orientation required to tap into SSW for a sinker. Note the slightly inefficient spin. Usually these same guys will have cut on a 4 seam fastball. https://t.co/vKZyO9RebY
— Ben Brewster (@TreadAthletics) April 9, 2023
Yeah good luck 🤮 https://t.co/RzfXHwy8Ik
— PLoading…5️⃣ (@PeytonPadilla_5) April 9, 2023
That pitch is disgusting https://t.co/JzL5f5guyH
— Classic (@CallMeClassicc) April 9, 2023
Hitting a baseball shouldn’t be possible. https://t.co/THQ62abkCe
— Parker Lee (@parker_lee_) April 9, 2023
Unreal filth here https://t.co/ZlA19KDkwD
— Chance Thomas (@Chanceman33) April 9, 2023
Good lord https://t.co/RmmoxaXpQL
— Patrick Siazon (@patricksiazon) April 9, 2023
Clay Holmes: Good at baseball https://t.co/at4jZSmgxu
— dylan (@MendNets) April 9, 2023
How in the blue hell do you hit this? lol NASTY https://t.co/PyRBqrmRz1
— Jệḟḟ (@JXDubs727) April 9, 2023
Good luck trying to hit that.
