Who Has The Best Arm In Baseball?
Contents
There’s no question that some pitchers have seriously impressive arms. But who has the best arm in baseball? We take a look at the contenders.
Introduction
In baseball, having a strong arm is a very important asset. A pitcher with a strong arm can throw the ball harder and faster, which makes it more difficult for batters to hit. A fielder with a strong arm can throw the ball harder and faster, which makes it more difficult for runners to advance.
There are a lot of different opinions on who has the best arm in baseball. Some people say that it is pitchers like Aroldis Chapman or Noah Syndergaard who have the strongest arms. Others say that it is fielders like Yoenis Cespedes or Giancarlo Stanton who have the strongest arms.
The truth is, there is no definitive answer to this question. It is impossible to say definitively who has the best arm in baseball. However, there are a few players who are generally considered to be among the best in the league.
The Case For Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole of the Houston Astros has been dominating on the mound this season. Cole is leading the majors in strikeouts and has an ERA of 2.50. He has been a key piece in the Astros’ success this season. Let’s take a look at why Cole has the best arm in baseball.
Cole’s Fastball
Gerrit Cole’s fastball clocks in at a blazing 98.2 mph on average. That’s the fastest average fastball velocity among starting pitchers in baseball, and it helps explain why Cole has been so dominant this season.
hitters just can’t catch up to Cole’s fastball, especially when he locates it up in the zone. They’ve managed to hit just .155/.211/.279 off Cole’s heater this season, per Statcast. Compare that to the .264/.341/.453 line they’ve put up against fastballs from other pitchers.
Cole’s Slider
Gerrit Cole has one of the nastiest sliders in all of baseball. His slider clocks in at around 87 miles per hour and has wicked movement. Cole uses his slider to great effect, often getting batters to swing and miss or hit weak ground balls.
Cole’s Slider: The Case For Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole has one of the nastiest sliders in all of baseball. His slider clocks in at around 87 miles per hour and has wicked movement. Cole uses his slider to great effect, often getting batters to swing and miss or hit weak ground balls.
Some people may argue that other pitchers have better fastballs or better curveballs, but there is no denying that Cole’s slider is one of the best pitches in baseball. If you are looking for a pitcher who can dominate hitters, then you need to check out Gerrit Cole.
The Case For Trevor Bauer
Trevor Bauer of the Cleveland Indians has been making a case for having the best arm in baseball this season. He is averaging career highs in strikeouts per nine innings (12.6) and fielding independent pitching (2.88). Furthermore, his walk rate (1.8 per nine innings) is the lowest it has been since his rookie season.
Bauer’s Fastball
Trevor Bauer has one of the best arms in baseball. He consistently throws his fastball over 100 miles per hour, and he has great control of it. In addition to his fastball, Bauer also throws a slider, curveball, and changeup. He uses all of his pitches effectively, and he is able to get hitters out with any of them.
Bauer’s Curveball
Since being drafted third overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011, Trevor Bauer has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He’s a three-time All-Star, and he finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2019 after going 18-9 with a 2.21 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds. Bauer is also known for his unique approach to pitching, which includes using multiple types of pitches and working diligently on his craft.
One of Bauer’s most effective pitches is his curveball. Bauer throws his curveball around 74 mph, which is slower than the average major league pitcher’s fastball (around 93 mph). But what makes Bauer’s curveball so effective is its spin rate. Spin rate is a measure of how fast a pitch is spinning as it travels towards the batter. A higher spin rate means the pitch breaks more sharply, making it harder for hitters to make contact.
Bauer’s curveball has an average spin rate of 2679 rpm, which is significantly higher than the major league average of 2244 rpm. This makes Bauer’s curveball one of the most difficult pitches to hit in baseball. In 2019, hitters batted just .153 against Bauer’s curveball, and they struck out swinging at it nearly 29% of the time.
If you’re looking for someone to give your team an edge on the mound, Trevor Bauer is your man. His unique pitching style and high spin rate curveball make him one of the most difficult pitchers to hit in baseball today.
The Case For Jacob deGrom
When you think of the best pitchers in baseball, a few names come to mind. But when you think of the pitcher with the best arm, only one name should come to mind: Jacob deGrom. The New York Mets ace has been lights out on the mound ever since he made his MLB debut in 2014, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
deGrom’s Fastball
Jacob deGrom’s fastball is one of the best in baseball. He throws it an average of 95 mph, and it tops out at around 98 mph. But what makes deGrom’s fastball so special is its movement. His four-seam fastball has an average spin rate of 2,275 rpm, which is well above the major league average of 2,100 rpm. That extra spin gives the pitch more rise, making it harder for hitters to get under it and drive it for extra-base hits. In 2018, deGrom allowed just four home runs off his fastball, tied for the second fewest in baseball.
deGrom’s Changeup
Many fans and analysts argue that Houston Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole has the best arm in baseball. They point to his league-leading fastball velocity as proof. But New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom has a secret weapon that makes his arm just as good, if not better: his changeup.
deGrom’s changeup is one of the best in baseball. It’s a pitch that he can throw for strikes or use as a strikeout pitch. His changeup is so good that it helped him win the National League Cy Young Award in 2018.
Some people might argue that Cole’s fastball is better than deGrom’s changeup. But when you look at the numbers, it’s clear that deGrom’s changeup is just as good, if not better, than Cole’s fastball.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no definitive answer to the question, “Who has the best arm in baseball?” It is clear, however, that there are a number of players who have the potential to be considered among the best. These include players such as Aroldis Chapman, Giancarlo Stanton, and Yadier Molina.