When we talk about spin rate, we usually attribute it to the rate of the spin on a baseball after it's released from a pitcher's hand. On Friday night in Minneapolis, we may need to alter the definition to include the number of revolutions a hitter makes while spinning helplessly on a ridiculous K.
Making his second career MLB start, Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski fanned Castro on a nasty 95.5 mph slider that had the Twins infielder corkscrewing to the ground to end the first inning.
"You're going to see that one all over," exclaimed Brewers play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson.
While Misiorowski threw 29 fastballs that reached 100 mph, he used his entire arsenal to flummox the Twins, fanning six and walking just one.
“I felt calmer and ready to go compared to the first one,” Misiorowski said. “Nerves were going pretty heavy on the first one, so it's good to finally feel your feet under you."
As for Castro's feet, it looked like the rug was pulled out from under him.
“I think his slider was obviously really hard. He was dominating with that,” Castro said. “You don't see a guy throwing a slider 95, 96. It's really hard to pick up. But yeah, good for him.”
That opening inning was just the taste of what Misiorowski had going for the night. The 6-foot-7 right-handed flamethrower allowed his first hit and run in the seventh after tossing six perfect frames in the Brewers' 17-6 win over the Twins.
The 11-inning hitless streak to open a career is the longest by exclusively a starting pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1900), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.