In the world of baseball, the idea of a perfect pitcher is almost unattainable. While some pitchers like Mitch Keller and Matt Brash can control the spin of the ball with almost bullet-like precision, they often struggle to generate swing-and-miss results within the strike zone. However, Ryan Bergert might be on the verge of becoming a dazzling new star. While absolute perfection may be hard to find in him, he possesses extraordinary potential that sets him apart.
Bergert’s rise is closely linked to his recent trade to the Kansas Royals. This deal not only successfully brought Bergert into the Royals’ lineup but also secured a solid fifth starter in Stephen Kolek. Meanwhile, catching prospect Freddy Fermin, who was part of the trade, has shown impressive performance, boasting a remarkably low strikeout rate with just one strikeout during his appearances.
When it comes to Fermin, he is undoubtedly a valuable choice for the San Diego Padres’ catcher lineup. However, the overall firepower remains lacking, leading to low expectations from outsiders regarding his long-term contributions. In contrast, Bergert’s potential seems to excite many fans immensely.
Although Bergert’s statistics have yet to fully showcase his prowess, he possesses some qualities that his peers find hard to match. He can deliver an astonishing backspinning fastball while also featuring an impressive lateral movement curveball. Regarding his fastball, even though it clocks in at around 93.6 mph, just below the average for right-handed pitchers, its unique shape is truly remarkable. Data indicate that it boasts an average vertical rise of nearly 19 inches, placing him among the top starting pitchers who have thrown 250 fastballs.
Bergert’s inward rotation characteristics allow his fastball to achieve a spin efficiency of up to 95%, indicating his remarkable control over the ball at the moment of release. While this makes it challenging for him to effectively throw breaking balls that require lower spin rates, he still manages to deliver curveballs with a lateral movement of over 13 inches, sacrificing no more than 10 mph in speed, which is a rare accomplishment among pitchers.
Among the pitchers that fit the characteristics of Four-Seam Fastball and exhibit a strong upward motion, Bergert stands out with his uniqueness, emerging as a new star worthy of attention and possibly even a future superstar.
