Over the past 10 seasons, Major League Baseball has seen hitters strike out at an increasing rate. And it’s gotten to the point where MLB has taken a look at the strikeout rate in an effort to figure out solutions.
But the explanation for all the strikeouts is pretty simple: Pitchers have gotten so good at throwing harder and making baseballs do seemingly impossible things. The fact that today’s hitters can even hit the ball at all is a testament to how talented MLB players are.
Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen is the latest example of that.
Treinen is in his first season with the Dodgers after a few years as the A’s closer, and the tall right-hander has a literal 100 mph SINKER (yes, sinker!) in his arsenal. It’s just not fair.
Blake Treinen, Insane 100mph Sinker. 😳 pic.twitter.com/zFMhFNPIiy
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 31, 2021
Treinen unleashed that pitch in Wednesday’s spring training finale against the Angels’ Jared Walsh. The pitch, which cut towards the right-handed batter’s box from a right-handed pitcher, was simply unhittable. Walsh could just stand there as he took the pitch for a called strike.
Though Walsh would eventually get a single on the at-bat, fans were stunned by Treinen’s pitch — and for good reason.
Wtf!?! 🤯 I thought 100 MPH sinkers only existed in #MLB #TheShow when I created my own pitcher and rigged him. 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/rbVogES0wO
— Gonzalo (@GeezyEFC) March 31, 2021
This pitch is absolute black magic https://t.co/AX1HPaIVh6
— John Noonan (@noonanjo) March 31, 2021
This makes no sense https://t.co/IO2mYtgU5k
— OpTic Di3seL (@Di3seL_) March 31, 2021
good night and good luck. https://t.co/ztntwxKMpW
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) March 31, 2021
Dude this is literal witchcraft…this is a @gregmaddux sink piece at 100mph!!! https://t.co/5OTqxqAuPl
— Lou Green (@LouGreen22) March 31, 2021
"I could luck into a home run" https://t.co/fpSptEE5jy
— Paggawoot is AotC (@paggawoot) March 31, 2021
How do you hit this https://t.co/WCs08hr1HN
— hunt (@atherton614) March 31, 2021
w in tf https://t.co/YpBbrIGkwr
— hennynochasrr (@chesidente) March 31, 2021
A 100 mph sinker?! Tf? Somebody contact the authorities https://t.co/YHPOnEMZej
— Bomaye (@Charlie_Bomaye) March 31, 2021
I don’t know how human eyeballs are supposed to track that. 😳 https://t.co/OZzh2HKXiI
— A’s fan Chris ⚾🌳🐘 (@MrChris80) March 31, 2021
It was shades of Dustin May’s witchcraft, who is also on the Dodgers.
