Throw harder? III

So, we have taken a look at data about 4-seam fastballs and 2-seam fastballs (sinkers) over the last 17 seasons.

 

Now, let’s look at data about the cutter, another pitch that belongs to fastballs. Cutters are used by some pitchers and some of them were later inducted to the Hall of Fame. Over the last 17 seasons, any dramatic changes of this pitch? Again, I decided to check on the statcast website.

 

Firstly, let’s look at pitch velocity. In 2008, average pitch velocity of cutters was 87.5 mph and the next season, the average velocity was 87.7 mph. In 2010, average pitch velocity of cutters increased to 88.2 mph. In 2011, the number went up to 88.6 mph. However, things hadn’t changed much since then. From 2012 to 2021, average velocity of cutters remained under 89 mph. Nevertheless, in 2022, average velocity of cutters rose to 89.1 mph. Since then, league wide average velocity of cutters has stayed over 89 mph.

 

In addition, let’s look at spin rate. In 2015, average spin rate of cutters was 2204 rpm and the next season, average spin rate of cutters was 2319 rpm. In 2017 and 2018, average spin rate of cutters was 2340+ rpm. In 2019, the number was over 2350 rpm. And in 2020, average spin rate was 2370 rpm. The next 2 seasons, the number remained over 2360 rpm. Over the last 2 years, the average spin rate of cutters was over 2390 rpm league wide.

Finally, let’s see whether there are more and more cutters that reach 95 mph or higher. In 2008 and 2009, there were fewer than 300 cutters with a velocity of 95 mph or higher. Nonetheless, in 2010, 800+ cutters reached 95 mph or higher and, in 2011, more than 900 cutters were thrown at a velocity of 95 mph or higher. However, the number dropped significantly in 2012. In 2013, it went up again. And in 2014, there were almost 1000 cutters with a velocity of 95 mph or higher. Nevertheless, from 2015 to 2018, the number dropped year by year. In particular, in 2018, only 289 cutters reached 95 mph or higher. But in 2019, the number went up again. The 2020 season was a shortened one, but there were still 100+ cutters that were at a velocity of 95 mph or higher. In 2021, things changed dramatically. There were more than 2000 cutters with a velocity of 95 mph or higher. In 2022 and 2023, the number went even higher, more than 3000 cutters that reached 95 mph or higher each season. But last season, the number was below 3000.

Looking at the trends of cutter over the last 17 seasons, things look quite clear. Average pitch velocity of cutters goes up gradually. Additionally, the average spin rate of cutters increases as well. Furthermore, more and more cutters are thrown hard. From 2008 to 2020, it wasn’t common to see cutters with a velocity of 95 mph or higher. Nonetheless, since 2021, as we can see, there are more than 2000 cutters with a velocity of 95 mph or higher. Simply put, cutters in the majors are becoming faster and spinning more.