THREAD

So I wrote yesterday that #Mets RHP Sean Reid-Foley's FB is anything but plus. From a velocity + movement POV that's definitely accurate.

But digging deeper — SRF has one of the flattest vertical approach angles, up there with Diaz, deGrom, and May among the best. (1/6)

What does that mean? Essentially, Reid-Foley's fastball crosses the plate at a much shallower angle than expected, causing batters to swing under it.

Unsurprisingly, Reid-Foley had a very good whiff rate on his fastball in 2020, finishing in the 85th percentile (30.8%).

(2/6)

Fun comparison. Since 2018, whiff rate on elevated fastballs (zones 1, 2, 3, 11, 12):

Reid-Foley: 35.9 percent
deGrom: 35.4 percent

SRF ≠ the best pitcher on the planet of course, but it shows how a flat FB angle has helped them. Trevor May (47.4% !!) is best, btw.

(3/6)

Reid-Foley does a good job of using his flat VAA to his advantage, with exactly two-thirds of his FBs thrown up in the zone.

VAA is a major reason why guys are able to get by with low-90s fastballs. If they're flat and located well, they'll get whiffs.

(4/6)

Reid-Foley has his flaws, namely a 14.5% walk rate in the majors (479th out of 484 since 2018).

But combine his interesting fastball with a slider that allows almost no damage (.284 xWOBACon, 3° LA) and he could give you something out of the bullpen.

(5/6)

This is a very bare-bones pitching analysis but a bunch of recent/current #Mets have exhibited these fastball characteristics:

deGrom, Diaz, May, Barnes, Sewald, Robles, Montero, Bashlor, Drew Smith, to name a few.

We'll see where Reid-Foley ends up on that spectrum.

(6/6)