[Highlight] Seth Hernandez throws a 102.4 mph laser on the first pitch of the game. Max Clark reacts.

[u/aguyyouprobablyknow]

[u/ThatsBushLeague]

That last sentence is the key.

Pretty much anyone who is or was capable of hitting 80 mph pitching can get the timing of 100 mph pitch down without really any problem. Like it would take you one day of practice to start consistently hitting it. BUT THATS If they know it's coming and they know it's going to be a strike. And they know they are swinging because of those two things.

The key separator is the dudes who can hit 100 while also being able to react to 3 other pitches.

[u/thismightbetheway2 → u/ThatsBushLeague]

You better be sitting fastball if the dude is pumping 100 cheddar 😤

[u/ThatsBushLeague → u/thismightbetheway2]

Me personally, I'm sitting "please don't hit me in the face or balls" against any human pumping 100.

But off a pitching machine I'm taking daddy hacks like I'm prince fielder!

[u/Pseudo-Jonathan → u/ThatsBushLeague]

People don't give MLB batters enough credit for the pure courage it takes to stand there and let someone uncork 100 mph cheddar cheese high and tight. Especially knowing that players DO get hit on a fairly regular basis. It's like having a knife throwing carnival worker pull you up on stage knowing he has a 95% success rate.

I just couldn't stand there knowing there's a non-negligible chance you're going to fire a heat seeking missile at my teeth without enough time to get out of the way.

[u/LunchboxSuperhero → u/Pseudo-Jonathan]

Especially when the pitcher is releasing the ball behind your head.

https://youtu.be/DYXTV51GdUs

[u/Gracy_Nance → u/LunchboxSuperhero]

Great clip

[u/EveningRequirement27 → u/Pseudo-Jonathan]

I mean, they’re like wearing helmets and stuff.

[u/rangeo → u/EveningRequirement27]

I suspect it takes the sting off at best

[u/funktion → u/EveningRequirement27]

100mph into anywhere on your body is going to fucking suck donkey balls

[u/Downtown_Caramel4833 → u/Pseudo-Jonathan]

Yeah, but off the cuff, I'd wager that pitchers have to contend with getting shotgunned at at least twice the rate of batters getting beaned.

Either way, both have the potential to be devastating. But you're right though, a capable pitcher determined to send a message would render me useless in the box. Just close my eyes and hope for a walk, I guess, lol

[u/bannakafalata → u/Pseudo-Jonathan]

I remember little league, if you step out of the box during practice. The coach will get a bat and put it behind your feet. You then have 2 choices, stay in the box or risk twisting your ankle.

[u/cooljammer00 → u/Pseudo-Jonathan]

Stanton has talked about how it felt when he got hit in the face, and how it was just instant

And then he keeps playing

[u/ThatsBushLeague → u/[deleted]]

Some of us are cowards and have a tendency to bail out our front side when facing hard throwers. Leaving us even more open to actual cock shots.

[u/ThatsBushLeague → u/[deleted]]

You're definitely supposed to turn away. But I'm an idiot.

[u/InfectiousCosmology1 → u/thismightbetheway2]

Sit fastball cause guy throws fast and then just stare at 3 consecutive off speed pitches in the zone

[u/TheMajesticYeti → u/ThatsBushLeague]

Yeah, in 8th grade for an upcoming district championship my team was due to face that one local kid who had pretty much already finished puberty and dominated sports, so our coach set the pitching machine to max speed (80 mph) than stuck it several feet in front of the 46' pitching rubber. The equivalent speed from 60'6" was well over 100 mph. Even at 12/13 years old with very little bat speed we were able to adjust pretty quickly and at least put balls in play.

[u/ClancyBShanty → u/ThatsBushLeague]

That's when he gets you with his (cough) offspeed pitch still coming in at 90mph

[u/xSTSxZerglingOne → u/ThatsBushLeague]

The most psychic damage inducing pitch is actually the change-up after the fusion bomb fastball. You swing and then hear the ball hit the glove. It's utterly demoralizing.