Strikeout Pitch
Also known as: put-away pitch, out pitch
A strikeout pitch is the specific pitch a pitcher goes to in two-strike counts to finish the at-bat — their most reliable swing-and-miss weapon given the batter's tendencies.
Elite fast-pitch pitchers know exactly which pitch they lean on to put hitters away: often a rise ball high and tight, or a drop ball off the outside corner. The strikeout pitch is chosen based on scouting (does the hitter chase up?) and game situation, and it's typically the pitch built to over the course of an at-bat by setting it up with other locations and movement types. Having a dominant strikeout pitch changes how opponents approach the entire at-bat.
Example
After two fastballs to set up a hitter's timing, the pitcher goes to her rise ball high and in — her strikeout pitch — for a swing-and-miss.
Related terms
- Pitch SequencingPitch sequencing is the deliberate ordering of pitches across an at-bat — using pitch type, speed, location, and movement to set up and exploit a hitter's reactions.
- Count AdvantageCount advantage describes who the current ball-strike count favors — the pitcher (with two strikes or ahead) or the hitter (with three balls or behind) — and how both sides should adjust their approach accordingly.
- Rise BallA rise ball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with backspin so it appears to climb as it nears the plate, tempting hitters to swing under it.
Related guides & benchmarks
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