Sweeper (Pitch)
Also known as: sweeper, sweeper pitch, sweeping slider, frisbee slider, sweeper vs slider
A sweeper is a type of slider that breaks much more sideways than a regular slider. MLB's glossary says the average sweeper breaks about 15 inches horizontally, compared with about 6 inches for a typical slider. It is usually thrown slower than a regular slider, often with side spin, and it is hard to square up.
The sweeper became popular in the major leagues from late 2021 into 2022. Statcast added it as its own pitch type in 2023. Some pitchers throw both a sweeper and a regular slider.
Pitchers throw it with side spin, getting around the ball, or with a two-seam grip. Seam orientation can add extra sideways movement through seam-shifted wake. A gyro slider, by contrast, spins like a football and breaks less sideways.
Its big sideways break makes it hard to hit squarely. It often draws weak contact or swings and misses. Hitters on the same side as the pitcher see it break away from them.
Tips by skill level
If a pitcher throws a sweeper, look for it to break a lot sideways. Let it travel and hit it the other way.
Track where a pitcher's sweeper starts. If it starts in the zone and finishes off the plate, plan to lay off it.
Example
A right-handed pitcher throws a sweeper to a right-handed hitter. It starts at the middle of the plate and breaks far off the outside corner. The hitter chases it for strike three.
Why it matters
The sweeper is one of the most common breaking balls in modern baseball. Knowing how it moves helps hitters plan for it.
Common mistakes
- Treating a sweeper like a hard, tight slider
- Chasing sweepers that finish off the plate
- Trying to pull a sweeper that breaks away
Frequently asked questions
What is a sweeper?
It is a slider with a lot of sideways break. The average MLB sweeper moves about 15 inches horizontally.
What's the difference between a sweeper and a slider?
A sweeper breaks much more sideways and is usually slower. A traditional slider is harder with tighter break, about 6 inches sideways on average.
How do you hit a sweeper?
Read the spin early, let it travel and look to hit it the other way. Lay off sweepers that start in the zone and break off the plate.
Sources
Related terms
- SliderThe slider is a breaking ball with lateral movement and some downward tilt, faster than a curveball and usually sharper in its late break.
- Horizontal BreakHorizontal break is the lateral movement a pitch generates from spin, measured in inches to the arm side (positive) or glove side (negative).
- Seam-Shifted Wake (SSW)Seam-shifted wake (SSW) is an airflow effect where off-center seams disturb the air unevenly. It causes movement that spin rate or axis alone can't predict.
- Pitch MixA pitcher's pitch mix is the combination and proportion of pitch types thrown — for example 55% fastball, 20% slider, 15% changeup, 10% curveball — and how that mix shifts by count and batter.
- Hitting a CurveballTo hit a curveball, pick it up early from the hump and spin out of the pitcher's hand. Keep your weight and hands back, let the ball travel and hit it where it ends up, usually up the middle or the other way. Lay off a curve that starts at the knees. It usually finishes in the dirt.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into practice
Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question about this, or keep reading the related terms above.