Justin Steele Could Set Record in Friday Start
Justin Steele could make history in Friday’s start against the Phillies, though there’s an asterisk and a fair bit of context involved. Since the advent of pitch tracking, no pitcher has thrown more than 807 four-seamers without giving up a homer. That record was set by Heath Bell in 2010 and Steele is at 786, just 21 pitches behind, heading into his start.
As Alex Fast of Pitcher List goes on to qualify, this data does not overlap from one season to the next.
Justin Steele is 21 four-seamers away from history*.
Most four-seamers thrown w/out giving up a HR in the pitch tracking era:
Heath Bell: 807 in 2010
Justin Steele: 786 in 2022.— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) July 22, 2022
Another fun anecdote about Steele’s success in avoiding the longball is that his four-seam is one of only four pitches to have been thrown 500+ times without surrendering a homer. The others are Sandy Alcántara‘s changeup, Clay Holmes‘ sinker, and Carlos Rodón‘s slider. Just in case your knowledge of non-Cubs is somewhat limited, you can rest assured those are all god-tier pitches.
Four pitches have been thrown 500+ times and are yet to give up a HR:
Sandy Alcantara's CH
Clay Holmes' SI
Carlos Rodón's SL
Justin Steele's FB— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) July 22, 2022
If all goes according to plan, Steele could set a new record by the 2nd or 3rd inning.
