Let’s look at which of this season’s Diamondback pitchers had specific pitch types/categories that were either great or below average. That will be determined by whether that pitch type’s wOBA is either 10% better or 10% worse than the league average wOBA. Pitch types with less than 25 pitches in their latest season were excluded.
“Unlike on-base percentage and OPS (OBP + SLG), wOBA assigns value to each method of reaching base, in terms of its impact on scoring runs.” — excerpt from MLB.com glossary
Which Diamondbacks’ pitcher had the best wOBA for each pitch type?
AJ Puk was the only Diamondback pitcher who was best in two pitch types: The 4-seam fastball and the sinker.
The pitchers with the best breaking pitches were all starters last season.
For details see the following table.
2024 Season. 25 pitch minimum. Data from Baseball Savant.
Which Diamondback pitcher had the most pitch types that were 10% above-average?
The only pitcher with three 10% above average pitch types was Corbin Burnes. The types were: cutter, curve and slider. In addition his sinker and changeup were slightly above average. His sweeper was near average, but nevertheless it was the best of the Diamondbacks pitchers.
Honorable mention goes to the following with two pitch types: AJ Puk, Justin Matinez, Brandon Pfaadt, Walston, and Kyle Nelson. Also, Brandon Pfaadt had near-average sweepers (no Diamondback pitcher had a 10% above average sweeper).
Zac Gallen was the only Diamondback with a great knuckle curve. This season, If his wOBA for his 4-seam fastball bounces back to .285 wOBA, he would have two pitch types that are 10% above average.
Justin Martinez was the only Diamondback with a great split finger offspeed pitch.
The following table shows all the 10% above average pitch types.
2024 Season. 25 pitch minimum. Graveman is 2023 Season. Dbacks with pitches 10% better than league average wOBA. Data from Baseball Savant.
Let’s divide pitch types into two groups: fastballs and other types.
Which pitchers had a 10% above average pitch type in each of the two groups (fastballs and non-fastballs)? My view is that having a great pitch in each group results in synergy and it is an excellent predictor of future performance.
Corbin Burnes. He is amazing because last season he had five pitch types better than league average (three at least 10% better). That diversity of pitch types is one reason he is such a great pitcher.
Brandon Pfaadt. Last season, Brandon Pfaadt was surprisingly good with a dash of inconsistency. This season he will pitch better (based on his FIP and having a great pitch type in each of the two groups). He will allow 11 less runs per this AZ Snake Pit article.
Kyle Nelson. Last season, after 8 games (9.1 innings) with no runs allowed (and no inherited runs scored), he pitched three games with 5 runs allowed. He missed the rest of the season because neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. With a great pitch type in each of the two groups, he will likely pitch well when he returns.
Which pitcher surprised me the most. Justin Martinez. In the context of having a high velocity fastball, his two great pitch types were non-fastballs. Perhaps his fastball setup the success of his other pitches.
Which pitchers had great pitch types, but no below average pitch types?
With all pitch types near league average or better, that is a great foundation for being a consistent pitcher. Consistency wins games. The following had no pitch that was 10% worse than league average: Corbin Burnes, AJ Puk, Joe Mantiply, and Ryan Thompson.
Summary.
Corbin Burnes is amazing because last season he had five pitch types better than league average (three at least 10% better). That diversity of pitch types is one reason he is such a great pitcher.
Eight pitchers can claim best Diamondbacks’ wOBA for at least one pitch type. AJ Puk was best in two pitch types: the 4-seam fastball and the sinker. The pitchers with the best breaking pitches were all starters last season.
Three pitchers (Corbin Burnes, Brandon Pfaadt, and Kyle Nelson) have 10% better than league average pitch types that include fastballs and non-fastballs. My view is they will pitch very well this season.