Sunday Notes: Kai-Wei Teng’s Sweeper Takes a Sharp 90-Degree Left Turn

Kai-Wei Teng had a restricted repertoire when he signed with the Minnesota Twins out of Taiwan in 2017. The proper-hander from Taichung possessed only a fastball and a curveball. Rather a lot has modified since that point. Now 27 years previous and pitching for the Houston Astros, Teng assaults hitters with a five-pitch combine that features a sweeper that isn’t solely exhausting to hit, it’s no enjoyable to be on the receiving finish of in catch-play.

“It’s insanely good,” Spencer Arrighetti advised me final weekend at Fenway Park. “I throw a sweeper. Lance [McCullers] throws a sweeper. We’ve a few different guys who toy round with it. However Teng’s is unbelievable. Actually. I performed catch with him, and it seems to be like a fastball for 48 toes, then takes a 90-degree left flip. Not all sweepers are created equal. A few of them are a little bit loopier and larger, however his is 85 mph. I imply, it’s gross. It actually is a good pitch.”

The numbers again that up. Teng has relied on his most-used providing 36.3% of the time this season to the tune of a .118 BAA, a .118 SLG, and a 27.9% whiff price. His different numbers are spectacular, as nicely. Over 14 appearances, Teng has a 2.35 ERA, a 3.83 FIP, and a 24.7% strikeout price over 23 innings.

I requested Teng for the story behind his finest weapon.

“I realized my sweeper in 2021, once I was in Excessive-A,” Teng defined through interpreter Andy Lin. “I appreciated to sort of play with the baseball once I was within the bullpen, and in the future I unintentionally discovered a grip I actually like. I believed, ‘Oh, I’m going to throw it tomorrow when enjoying catch.’ The very subsequent day, I performed catch with one among my teammates and the form felt actually good. On the time, we didn’t actually have the identify ‘sweeper,’ so we referred to as it a slider. It wasn’t till 2023, once I obtained referred to as as much as Triple-A, {that a} coach was like, ‘This isn’t actually a slider; it’s extra like a sweeper.’”

As his teammate stated, not all sweepers are created equal. Teng’s is averaging 16 inches of horizontal break, which is lower than these thrown by quite a few different hurlers, together with Arrighetti. A pointy left flip with above-average velocity isn’t the one motive it performs up.

“I didn’t understand that my sweeper and fastball had an amazing tunnel till final 12 months, once I was with the Giants,” Teng advised me. “I talked to our pitching coach, J.P [Martinez] and bullpen coach, GA [Gavin Alston], and I’ve additionally talked to Ethan [Katz], who’s our bullpen coach right here with Houston. I’ve requested them, ‘How come my sweeper generally doesn’t transfer as a lot as different sweepers, nevertheless it’s exhausting for batters to hit?’ All of them had the identical reply: It has an amazing tunnel.”

Which brings us again to how it may be difficult to catch. Telling Teng what Arrighetti had stated elicited a smile. What it didn’t do is come as a shock.

“This has occurred all through my profession,” Teng replied. “Once I was in Excessive-A, Double-A, Triple-A, I had bother discovering a enjoying catch associate. They might at all times say, ‘Your throws are too nasty; I don’t need to play catch with you.’ Now I normally simply play catch with a bullpen catcher.”

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Bobby Cox went 10 for 15 in opposition to Gary Peters.

Ted Williams went 10 for 18 in opposition to George Caster.

Trea Turner is 9 for 15 in opposition to Carlos Carrasco.

Dale Murphy went 10 for 19 in opposition to Tim Lollar.

Chipper Jones went 10 for 17 in opposition to Julian Tavarez.

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The Chicago Cubs’ profitable their fifteenth straight house sport on Thursday — they started a highway journey the subsequent day — introduced them to inside three of the membership document, which dates again to 1935. Notable within the almost-century-old accomplishment was that it was a part of an general 21-game profitable streak during which the primary 18 have been performed at Wrigley Area, and the final three on the highway in St. Louis. Within the long-ago days when groups travelled by prepare, house stands have been sometimes for much longer than they’re now. Tthat iteration of the Despair-era Cubs definitely appreciated their house cooking: they went 56-21 on the Pleasant Confines on their solution to an general document of 100-54 and a visit to the World Collection. Heartbreak finally got here at a visiting venue. The Detroit Tigers walked off a deciding Sport 6 of that 12 months’s Fall Traditional courtesy of a Goose Goslin RBI single.

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The 1916 New York Giants could be the streakiest workforce in MLB historical past. The John McGraw-managed ball membership rode a veritable rollercoaster over the course of the marketing campaign. To wit:

They began the season 2-13, then proceeded to win their subsequent 17 video games, all of which have been performed on the highway. In August, over one other lengthy stretch of highway video games, they misplaced 11 of 12. In September, that they had a four-week stretch of house video games during which they went 26-0 with a tie. That’s a document. No different workforce in MLB historical past has gone as many video games with out struggling a defeat.

The Giants finally completed in fourth place within the Nationwide League with a document of 86-66-3, having gone 47-30-1 on the Polo Grounds, and 39-36-2 away from house. Additionally they parted methods with a legend. On July 20 of that 12 months, Christy Mathewson was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he would pitch in only one sport earlier than retiring. The Corridor of Fame right-hander had debuted with the Giants in 1900, then proceeded to win 372 video games in opposition to simply 188 losses.

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A quiz:

Greg Maddux has essentially the most assists, and most putouts, of any pitcher since 1950. Which pitcher has been charged with essentially the most errors since that point?

The reply may be discovered beneath.

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NEWS NOTES

SABR introduced the 2026 recipients of the Henry Chadwick Award, which was established to honor the sport’s nice researchers — historians, statisticians, annalists, and archivists — for his or her invaluable contributions to the sport. This 12 months’s honorees are Brian Kenny, Eugene Murdock, Bob Ruck, and Allan Simpson. Extra info may be discovered right here.

SABR members have elected Tyrone Brooks, Pat Filippone, Katie Krall, and Allison Levin to the group’s Board of Administrators. The announcement is right here.

Bob Skinner, an outfielder/first baseman who performed for 3 groups — primarily the Pittsburgh Pirates — from 1952-1966, died earlier this week at age 94. A member of two World Collection-winning groups — the Pirates in 1960 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 — Skinner had his finest statistical season in 1962 when he slugged 20 house runs whereas placing up a 141 wRC+ with the Bucs. He went on to handle the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968 and 1969.

Conrad Cardinal, a right-hander who made half a dozen appearances for the Houston Colt .45s in 1963, died late final month at age 84. Identified throughout his enjoying days as Randy, the Brooklyn-born hurler went 0-1 with a 6.08 ERA over 13-and-a-third frames. Cardinal’s given center identify was Seth, nevertheless it might simply as simply been “low-leverage” — the Colt .45s have been outscored 57-7 within the six video games he took the mound. The primary of his seven strikeout victims was Willie Mays.

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The reply to the quiz is Nolan Ryan. Furthermore, his 90 errors should not solely essentially the most for a pitcher since 1950, they’re essentially the most within the trendy period (since 1901). Don Drysdale (59) and Randy Johnson (58), have the next-highest error totals for a pitcher post-1950.

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Wade Boggs performed for the Boston Pink Sox from 1982-1992, an 11-season stretch during which he made eight All-Star groups and — taking ample benefit of the Inexperienced Monster — received 5 batting titles whereas slashing .338/.428/.462 with a 142 wRC. Then he left for the Massive Apple. In December, 1992, Boggs signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.

The Corridor of Fame third baseman regarded again at his departure when he met with reporters at Fenway Park on Friday evening. He did so with a touch of remorse.

“[Then-owner] Mrs. Yawkey supplied me a seven-year deal to stick with the Pink Sox,”recalled Boggs. “For substantial cash. Then, coincidentally, her dying [in February 1992], the supply was taken off the desk and I needed to discover employment elsewhere. I feel we sort of know the way that story ended. However no, I by no means wished to go away Boston.

“I have a look at the wall, and I am going ‘Thanks,’” Boggs went on to say. “I have a look at it and go, ‘There’s a man who hit .363 right here, and he’s second on the listing. Any individual hit .369 at Fenway Park. Each time you may high Ted Williams at one thing, you’ve executed one thing.

“I obtained drafted on June tenth, in 1976,” Boggs added. “I used to be at an American Legion sport and my father got here working down. He stated, ‘You went within the seventh spherical to Boston.’ He was so prophetic. He stated, ‘Fenway Park was constructed for you.’ More true phrases have been by no means spoken… Like I stated, I didn’t need to depart right here. Possibly the batting common could be a little bit larger had I stayed.”

Boggs completed with a .328 batting common, which ranks second-highest amongst gamers to have debuted since 1980. Tony Gwynn batted .338.

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What’s it wish to be a visiting participant at a historic venue, watching legends being celebrated earlier than a sport? I requested that query to Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen, who was available when Boggs, Carlton Fisk, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Jim Rice, and Carl Yastrzemski — the six dwelling gamers whose retired numbers adorn Fenway’s proper discipline facade — have been launched to the gang.

“Clearly, the group has a protracted, wealthy historical past of actually good gamers,” Rasmussen advised me the next day. “To see them take the sector and get their shine for what they completed of their time, in that uniform, is basically cool. Simply as a common baseball fan, the names, and seeing [them] out there was particular.”

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Robinson Canó is slashing .320/.388/.507 with two house runs over 85 plate appearances with the Mexican League’s Diablos Rojos del Mexico. Now in his twenty sixth season, the 45-year-old erstwhile MLB infielder has 3,694 skilled hits.

Steven Moya is slashing .311/.371/.509 with three house runs over 116 plate appearances for the CPBL’s TSG Hawks. The previous Detroit Tiger (2014-2016) is in his third season in Taiwan following 4 in NPB, in addition to stints in Mexico and the impartial Atlantic League.

Do Yeong Kim has a KBO-best 12 house runs to go together with a .269/.373/.592 slash line and a 152 wRC+ over 153 appearances for the Kia Tigers. Restricted to 30 video games final season attributable to accidents, the 22-year-old third baseman had 38 house runs, 40 stolen bases, and a 168 wRC+ in 2024.

Haruto Takahashi is 4-0 with a 0.21 ERA over 42 innings for NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. The 30-year-old left-hander has allowed 18 hits, issued 5 free passes, and fanned 37 batters.

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A Japanese-born place gamers leaderboard:

Seiya Suzuki: a 171 wRC+ over 115 PAs.

Munetaka Murakami: a 149 wRC+ over 169 PAs.

Kazuma Okamoto: a 128 wRC+ over 159 PAs.

Shohei Ohtani: a 126 wRC+ over 171 PAs.

Masataka Yoshida: a 110 wRC+ over 77 PAs.

Jung Hoo Lee: a 96 wRC+ over 154 PAs.

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FARM NOTES

Henry Bolte is 10-for-10 with 4 house runs ,a triple, and 4 doubles, over his final two video games with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. No. 10 on our Athletics Prime Prospects listing with a 40+ FV, the 22-year-old outfielder is slashing .351/.419/.669 with a dozen round-trippers on the season.

Ronny Cruz is slashing .342/.447/.586 with six house runs and a 174 wRC+ over 132 plate appearances between Low-A Fredericksburg and Excessive-A Wilmington. No. 4 on our Washington Nationals Prime Prospects listing with a 50 FV, the 19-year-old multi-position infielder was acquired by the Nats ultimately summer time’s trade-deadline deal that despatched Michael Soroka to the Chicago Cubs.

Kade Anderson has a 44.3% strikeout price to go together with a 4.7% stroll price and a 0.60 ERA over 30 innings with the Double-A Arkansas Vacationers. The 21-year-old southpaw is No. 3 on our Seattle Mariners Prime Prospects listing with a 50 FV.

On Tuesday, Tyson Lewis launched a two-out, three-run walk-off homer to present the Daytona Tortugas (Low-A, Cincinnati) a 9-8 win over the Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia). A 20-year-old shortstop who was chosen within the second spherical of the 2024 draft out of an Omaha highschool, Lewis is No. 11 on our Reds Prime Prospects listing with a 40+ FV.

On Wednesday, the Greenville Drive (Excessive-A, Boston) hit eight house runs, together with two every from Ronny Hernandez, Yophery Rodriguez, and Natanael Yuten, in a 13-12 loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh). A 20-year-old catcher whom the Pink Sox acquired from the Chicago White Sox over the offseason in alternate for Chris Murphy, Hernandez got here off the IL to go 4-for-4 in his first-ever sport together with his new group.

Garrett Spain launched three of his workforce’s 10 house runs on Thursday because the Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A Minnesota) walloped the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona) by a depend of 19-7. The 25-year-old outfielder is slashing .292/.370/.677 with 9 round-trippers and a 157 wRC+ on the season.

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A random obscure former participant snapshot:

Frank “Bullet” Miller was a farm boy with a very good fastball, in addition to — per his SABR BioProject entry — a sweeping curveball and a knuckleball. A right-hander from Allegan County, Michigan, he toed the rubber for 3 big-league groups from 1913-1923, logging a document of 52-66 with a 3.01 ERA over 1,010 innings. His profession included a two-year hiatus. Embroiled in a wage dispute, Miller sat out the 1920-1921 seasons, opting to are likely to his herd of cows relatively than signal for lower than the $5,000 annual contract he’d demanded from the Pittsburgh Pirates and (after his rights have been offered amid the standoff) the Boston Braves.

He’d begun his skilled profession with the Northern Copper Nation League’s Houghton Giants in 1907, after which he loved a string of fine seasons down on the proverbial farm. Miller went 24-16 with the Western League’s Des Moines Boosters in 1909, then had three consecutive 20-win campaigns with the Pacific Coast League’s San Francisco Seals.

His MLB debut got here with the Chicago White Sox in 1913, the place he matched up in opposition to Smoky Joe Wooden and took a loss in opposition to the Boston Pink Sox at Fenway Park. A decade later, Miller, who by then had segued from dairy farming to elevating chickens and harvesting cherries, made his last-ever look with the Braves at Chicago’s Cubs Park. Rube Marquard and Tiny Osborne have been the beginning pitchers for his or her respective groups that day.

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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

Daz Cameron is having fun with a very good first season in Korea with the Doosan Bears. Jee-ho Yoo talked to the erstwhile MLB outfielder for Yonhap Information Company.

The last-ever Class D minor-league sport was performed on September 13, 1962 with the Dubuque Packers (a Cleveland affiliate) and Waterloo Hawks (Boston) competing for the Midwest League championship. Kurt Blumenau chronicled the competition for SABR’s Sport Challenge.

Banning the infield shift didn’t deliver again the bottom hit, however does anybody care? Stephen J. Nesbitt and Cody Stavenhagen teamed as much as deal with that query at The Athletic.

Groups are bunting extra this season, and MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince gave us the numbers, in addition to insights from gamers and coaches.

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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

Milwaukee Brewers batters have 13 bunt hits this season, essentially the most within the majors. The Baltimore Orioles. Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and San Francisco Giants are all with no bunt hit.

Philadelphia Phillies pitchers have mixed to strike out 384 batters this season, essentially the most of any workforce. They’ve allowed 386 hits, essentially the most of any workforce.

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby leads all MLB pitchers in wins. The left-hander has toed the slab 18 occasions and is 7-0 with a 2.16 ERA over 25 innings.

Nathan Eovaldi is 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA in 46 profession innings versus the Detroit Tigers. He’s 0-5 with a 5.73 ERA in 33 profession innings versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

Joey Votto stole 24 bases for Double-A Chattanooga in 2006, 17 bases for Triple-A Louisville in 2007, and 16 bases for the Cincinnati Reds in 2010. Drafted as a catcher out of a Toronto highschool in 2002, Votto went on to have 150 steals in professional ball, 80 within the majors and 70 down on the farm.

Willie McCovey hit 4 of his 18 grand slams in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds. That was his most in opposition to any workforce, as have been his variety of hits (260), doubles (53), complete bases (522), and RBIs (196). McCovey’s 69 homers in opposition to the Reds have been two fewer than he hit in opposition to the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves.

On right now’s date in 2005, Jorge Cantu took Shingo Takatsu deep to present the Tampa Bay Satan Rays a 7-6 walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Area. Jesus Colome was the pitcher of document for the victorious facet.

Henry Aaron hit the one inside-the-park of his profession on right now’s date in 1967. The round-tripper, which got here off of fellow Corridor of Famer Jim Bunning, got here within the first sport of a doubleheader. Aaron additionally homered within the nightcap.

On right now’s date in 1979, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds performed the primary nine-plus innings of a sport that was suspended, then accomplished on July 23 with the house workforce prevailing 9-8 in 18 innings. Steve Ontiveras despatched the Wrigley Area trustworthy house proud of a walk-off single, whereas Lynn McGlothen tossed three good frames for the W.

Gamers born on right now’s date embody Ken Berry, a centerfielder who received two Gold Gloves and earned one All-Star berth whereas enjoying for 4 groups, primarily the Chicago White Sox, from 1962-1975. Not identified for his bat, Berry did have a robust statistical season with the California Angels in 1972, hitting .289 with a 124 wRC+. He later coached and managed within the minors.

Additionally born on right now’s date was Edouard Gladu, a local of Montreal who logged 16 hits whereas showing in 22 video games for the Boston Braves in 1944. Later a scout, he additionally performed in Canada, Cuba, and Mexico, in addition to within the London Main Baseball League, the place he was a player-manager for West Ham. Gladu is in each the Canadian Baseball Corridor of Fame and the British Baseball Corridor of Fame.

John Sterling’s big-league profession comprised one look for the American Affiliation’s Philadelphia Athletics in 1890. Pitching in opposition to the Syracuse Stars, the right-hander allowed 16 hits and 12 earned runs over 5 innings. Per his SABR BioProject entry, Sterling later traveled the nation as a singing comic, and he additionally grew to become a politician in Gloucester, New Jersey. His native Democratic get together nominated him as its candidate for Overseer of the Poor.