Skip to content

New York Mets: Ranking The Nastiest Pitches From The Starting Rotation

Jeremy Fialkow
New York Mets

YouTube video

Honorable Mention: Jeurys Familia, Splitter

I know, I know. Starting pitchers only.

Nevertheless, it’s hard not to include one of the most mystifying pitches in all of baseball, coming from New York’s closer. In the absence and subsequent lifelong suspension of Jenrry Mejia, Familia stepped up out of nowhere to save 43 games and posting an ERA of 1.85.

Familia’s splitter is borderline unhittable and thus, unfair. It can reach speeds around 94-96 mph. Overall, its average velocity was 93.9 mph, a full three mph faster than any other player in baseball. The next highest velocity for a splitter in the Bigs? Pirates’ pitcher Arquimedes Caminero at 89.7 mph.

It once prompted a mesmerized David Ortiz to say: “That Familia, man, throwing that splitter 95 miles an hour, you crazy? No one can hit that.”

NYM_728_90_v1

Jeremy Fialkow
Jeremy Fialkow

Jeremy Fialkow was born and raised in Miami, FLA, but currently studies at the University of Maryland. When he's not studying hard, he can be found supporting his sometimes hopeless NY teams: Knicks, Mets, Jets, and Isles.

Your sympathy is appreciated.