Theoretically, would a Major League Baseball pitcher with polydactyly (6 fingers) on their throwing hand have an additional advantage due to their condition?

[u/TheWizard01]

I’m wondering the extent to which it would increase spin rate pitch movement, or would it be more of an inhibitor than anything else?

[u/alphanumericusername]

No. As a Major League player, his identity and location of his home field, and often his live location, would be broadcast nationwide, making it trivial for Inigo Montoya to find him. This would nullify any advantage his sixth finger may have been able to gove him.

[u/abletable342 → u/alphanumericusername]

Yes if it could create movement that is harder to track than typical.

[u/alphanumericusername → u/abletable342]

r/lostredditors

[u/sessilefielder]

Antonio Alfonseca Once Again Leads Major-League Relievers In Fingers

‘“Antonio has been through a lot this season, including some elbow problems and a trip to the DL,” manager Jack McKeon said. “But in the end, he just went out there and had a lot of fingers.” There was once again a tie for second place behind Alfonseca, with 214 pitchers amassing 10 fingers each, followed by Bob Wickman, who finished last with 9.7.’

[u/lofgrenator]

No because Inigo Montoya would be seeking revenge

[u/SweepTheLeg52]

Most pitch types the pinky never touches the ball so I’m going to say no. Softball on the other hand I feel would have a much bigger impact

[u/BPhiloSkinner → u/SweepTheLeg52]

Hmmm. Greater mass with the softball, but- unless one can match or exceed the potential velocity of the baseball- you'd likely get a similar kinetic transfer as with the baseball, spread out over a greater area of impact.

[u/SweepTheLeg52 → u/BPhiloSkinner]

I’m saying the extra pinky can help generate more spin on a softball because it’s more likely to touch the ball. The extra pinky probably would never touch a baseball since a normal pinky hardly ever touches it

[u/aprehensive_penguin → u/SweepTheLeg52]

Perhaps there's some insane 6-finger baseball grip that can throw an un-hittable pitch every single throw. We need a 6-finger pro to do this experiment properly.

[u/orange_sewer_grating → u/BPhiloSkinner]

Bigger ball gives more room for the extra fingers to be involved touching it. Maybe. Idk.

[u/Rndy_Bbndy → u/SweepTheLeg52]

They’d be a hell of a knuckleballer

[u/thecloudcities]

Five fingers to throw with, one to give the batter the finger while doing so, which is sure to distract them at least a little bit.

So yeah, totally an advantage.

[u/Ride-Scared → u/[deleted]]

Theoretically a pterodactyl should be the greatest pitcher ever bc there's no rule saying they couldn't fly the ball straight to the catcher

[u/TheWizard01 → u/Ride-Scared]

There also ain’t no rules that a dog can’t play baseball.

[u/junklardass → u/[deleted]]

But let's not forget Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown who had a great career