Umpire cam shows how scary a fastball up and in on Jose Altuve can be

We’ve seen so many things thanks to the innovation known as Umpire Cam (literally, a camera on the head of an umpire in both MLB and college baseball): A hit-by-pitch, what a Freddie Freeman home run looks like up close, and how darn hard it is to hit a Spencer Strider fastball.

This time? It’s how scary an up and in pitch for some so-called “chin music” can be.

This came out of Game 4 of the ALCS between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, with a pitch that had Jose Altuve jerking his head back and then falling to the dirt.

Yikes!

Ump cam for an up and in pitch is scary pic.twitter.com/9jSJpnJLi6

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 20, 2023

There was also Corey Seager’s home run with ump cam, much less frightening:

Ump cam forever pic.twitter.com/Jrri8ArNqJ

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) October 20, 2023