The World Baseball Classic (WBC) has delivered some captivating matchups, and surprising moments. Fans who ordinarily salivate at the thought of watching an MLB superstar hitter feast on an array of inferior deliveries from independent league journeyman pitchers, have had their convictions altered.
The fact that on several occasions through the course of this tournament it has been the journeyman who came out on top against the likes of Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Shohei Ohtani, and Juan Soto brings to mind a legitimate question. Are MLB teams really developing pitchers who, regardless of whether or not they light up the radar gun, are given a fair shot at success at the top level?
Surprising Dominance
The three pitchers profiled on Anubis last week can now reflect on their formidable performances, as the WBC enters its “final four” stage. Their efforts seem to underline a reemerging truth that has been lost in some scouting circles. That is, that pitching, and its level of execution and success, hinges on location, movement, and the ability to change speeds.
This is why Ondřej Satoria was able to baffle Ohtani with his “worker” changeup pitch. On paper, and when looking at the metrics that highlight the variance between the Czech pitcher’s arsenal and what Ohtani is used to facing against MLB’s best, it appears that the probability of Ohtani getting out at all, let alone striking out, is close to zero. Yet by applying those three core elements, Satoria found success throughout his incredible outing against Japan.
Pitcher’s Stock Rising After WBC?
Another case in point was Micah Ashman of Canada, who came into the quarterfinal game against the US with the heart of their order threatening to break the game wide open. Ashman, who despite having some success in the lower levels of the minors in just over two years of pro ball after being selected in the 11th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, has never pitched above the AA level.
He struck out Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony in the top of the third to silence a brief rally and then returned in the fourth to strike out Cal Raleigh before finishing an inning that allowed just one opposite field hit to Brice Turang. In short, Ashman, a 6 foot 7 wiry left hander, showed poise under pressure, and against the best. His fastball, all the while, topped out at around 92 mph.
Of course, StatCast and state of the art analytics systems are readily available to MLB scouting departments at all times. It is difficult to imagine that many pitchers nowadays are falling through the cracks. Stats such as ERA, WHIP, and, as revealed through Anubis, the WHERIP stat, which offers a lens into the total statistical evaluation of a pitcher, might still tend to favour velocity. After all, the average MLB fastball in the mid 1980s was roughly 88 to 89 mph. Nowadays it averages around 94, with the implications of stress and strain on the arm leading to hundreds of Tommy John surgeries now being performed every year.
The WBC is clearly showing that a pitcher does not need to throw that hard to get hitters out. Command beats velocity nine times out of ten. Health, and longevity should be the goal for pitchers, and an emphasis only on increased velocity doesn’t necessarily offer a strong return on investment for the big club.
Final Thoughts of Pitching Gap
It was refreshing to see Tyler Bremner, a changeup specialist, selected second overall in last year’s MLB Draft. Bremner throws relatively hard, but he does not light up the radar gun with triple digits every other pitch. The art of pitching was never intended to be a power lifting competition. With this refreshed and renewed approach, MLB scouting departments might find that several pitchers are lying in wait who could make outstanding additions to their bullpen or even a starting rotation in the years to come.
