Skip to content
Opens in a new window
How Data Changed MLB Pitching
19 August 2026

How Data Changed MLB Pitching

Wharton Moneyball

About

Why are today's MLB pitchers harder to hit than ever?


Adam Ottavino, former 15-year MLB reliever and current ESPN analyst, explains how pitch-tracking data, high-speed cameras, and personalized pitching labs reshaped his own career and changed player development across baseball. He breaks down how pitchers design new pitches, use bat-tracking data to attack hitters, and adapt their strategy from pitch to pitch.


Ottavino also examines why pitching may have gained an edge over hitting, how teams use data to plan pitch selection, the limits of velocity, automated ball-strike challenges, and what a temporary velocity drop can mean for a pitcher such as Paul Skenes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.