Scouting the Pirates system 2024: Best fastball
Scouting the Pirates system 2024: Best fastball
A look at the best fastballs in the Pirates system
The ‘Best Tools’ series is a look throughout the Pittsburgh Pirates organization at who has the best tools in the system.
After looking at some of the best tools on the offensive side of things in the Pirates’ organization, we now shift to the pitching.
A good fastball is still the basis of all pitchers. It helps set up the rest of your pitches, and let’s be honest—there are few things as exciting as seeing a pitcher blow a fastball by a hitter.
With more data available, we are starting to get a better idea of some of the details that make up a good fastball, which isn’t always directly tied to velocity.
So, with that in mind, here’s a look at some of the best fastballs in the Pirates’ system:
Bubba Chandler
Throughout this series, I’ve tried to avoid picking a player that the other two involved (NolaJeffy and WTM) picked, just to give a wider look at the system.
But when it comes to the best fastball, the conversation begins and ends with Bubba Chandler. He is the only player to be the consensus when it comes to having the best tool among our group here at the site, and it’s for just cause.
Chandler has one of the better fastballs in all of the minors, with the pitch characteristics to back it up. He can maintain the velocity deep into his starts and can reach the upper 90s with ease.
It’s easily a 70-grade fastball, and with a slight uptick in velocity (averaged just under 97 in Triple-A), could approach an 80.
NolaJeffy
Bubba Chandler’s fastball is beautiful. He averaged 96.8 MPH on his 4-seam while with Indianapolis with a -4.3 vertical approach angle, which equated to a 105 Stuff+ on TJ Stats. He threw it in-zone 52.7% of the time, while generating a whiff rate of 30.5%, and even getting a 30% chase rate. Bubba is going to be good. The end.
Chandler was also WTM’s pick for best fastball
Others to Watch
Wilber Dotel
He’s still working on how best to attack hitters with the fastball to get outs, but it’s a pitch that reached triple-digits this past year. Public data wasn’t available in Greensboro this past year, but some of his metrics from Bradenton were encouraging (extension, release point).
Thomas Harrington
He’s the best example of velocity not being a necessity to have success with it. The fastball didn’t quite pop in Triple-A when we were able to get actual data on him, but he has a long track record of having above-average characteristics on the fastball.
Zander Mueth
Mueth has the potential to be a rough at-bat for a long time thanks to his above-average extension and incredibly low arm slot. It also has a very flat approach angle, which allows it to play up in the zone.
He’s reached the upper 90s before, but dialed it back a bit to help with his control. If he can dial it back up and keep it in the zone, it could be one of the more dangerous fastballs in the system.
David Matoma
This could be a sleeper pick for the next best fastball in the system after Chandler graduates. Matoma has reached triple-digits in the Dominican in 2023, and while there were none comfirmed this past year, he did hit 99 at least once.
The characteristics are strong, but inconsistent at this point, which isn’t surprising considering he is still just 18.
Gavin Adams
He’s still a little bit of an unknown, as a recent draft pick who is currently out recovering from Tommy John surgery. His fastball was clocked in the triple-digits at some point, and if he heads to Bradenton at some point in 2024 we will get some better looks at it’s makeup.
But the pure velocity leaves him as one to watch with the fastball.
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The Gavin Adams mention👍
Landon Tomkins seems to have a good FB too(when healthy). He was used at the backend of Bradenton’s bullpen but was injured off and on throughout the season.
He’s old for that level too but when healthy the stuff looked good. He is also a big dude and there might even be more in the tank even with his age.
Also Tyler Kennedy FB is a good one but it’s just all over the place. But those are the type of arms you take a chance on during Day 3 of the draft. He might not make it past High A but the stuff(especially the FB) is plus.
Does having an elite fastball help you run to 1B on ground balls to the right side of the IF? Asking for a Yankees friend.