The Cleveland Guardians are ready to take on the Chicago White Sox this weekend, at the start of what is looking to be an exciting American League Division Series. Manager Stephen Vogt confirmed that left-hander Parker Messick, a bona fide AL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award candidate, will take the ball on Game 1.
Messick, who posted a brilliant 2.56 ERA in 186.1 innings this year, last pitched on Sunday, when he had a brief three-inning tune-up against the Kansas City Royals. The lefty produced a historic season, and he did it with an average fastball velocity of roughly 94 mph.
According to data from Baseball Savant, Messick’s four-seamer averaged 93.9 mpg, which ranked him in the 41st percentile among qualified pitchers. That means 59 percent of hurlers threw harder than him. That’s obviously not very impressive.
The pitch, however, was one of the most valuable in the league. It had, per Savant, a 35 Run Value, which ranked him in the 99th percentile of the circuit. How did he achieve it?
Jared Greenspan of MLB.com noted the average velo difference between Messick’s heater and his National League counterpart, Jacob Misiorowski.
“Messick averages 94.4 mph with his heater and sits in the 40th percentile of MLB in fastball velocity. The Miz sits at 101.6 mph. And yet, both pitches — and pitchers — are brilliant. There is no one-size-fits-all formula when it comes to getting hitters out. It is embedded in the fabric of baseball’s unshakable charm; it is why these two unique heaters can each bully opposing lineups,” Greenspan wrote.
It was, frankly, a beautiful way to describe the situation and how these two pitches can have roughly seven mph of difference, yet yield very similar results. While Misiorowski thrives in sheer power and velocity, Messick’s fastball succeeds with other ingredients.
First off, it plays off his incredible changeup, as the two pitches set up one another beautifully. Secondly, Messick’s extension is above average, and the pitch has incredible carry. Additionally, he has impeccable command of it: he can place it in any quadrant of the zone without fear.
Messick is also a high-IQ pitcher: he throws hitters off-balance, avoids being predictable, and has a wide array of weapons at his disposal; he is not just a fastball-changeup guy. The overall package is one of the most dominant starters in the junior circuit.
He might be a rookie, but the White Sox will have their hands full with the southpaw.
NEXT: Guardians Announce Starters For Games 1 and 2 Of AL Division Series
