With San Francisco Giants ace Kevin Gausman generating NL CY Young consideration for much of the 2021 season, the effectiveness of the splitter has become a hot topic of conversation. Let’s take a deep dive to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of this particular pitch. A splitter is an off-speed pitch that should play directly off of a fastball, similar to the use of a changeup. It has reduced spin rate due to a stiffer wrist and wide grip (fingers placed on the outside of the baseball) which induces downward movement with occasional horizontal break. Continue reading “What Makes Kevin Gausman’s Splitter So Effective?”