Jordan Hicks struck out Ozzie Albies on a 100-mph sinker that had unreal amounts of movement
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When Jordan Hicks made the Cardinals' Opening Day roster despite never having pitched above Class A, he didn't waste much time establishing himself as one of the hardest throwers in baseball -- routinely throwing over 100 mph. As history has shown, simply throwing hard -- even as hard as Hicks does -- is not enough to get Major League hitters out. Those pitches also need to have movement.
In the bottom of the seventh inning of Tuesday's game against the Braves, Hicks showed that his have plenty. He threw a two-strike 100-mph sinker to Ozzie Albies that the Braves' second baseman had very little chance of hitting:
Pitches aren't supposed to come in that fast and move that much. Add this as yet another exhibit as to why Hicks has become one of the best and most exciting relievers in baseball in his first season.