Sign In
  • Support FanGraphs
    FanGraphs Membership
    Gift a Membership
    Donate to FanGraphs
    FanGraphs Store
  • Games
    Ottoneu Fantasy Baseball
    Signup, FAQ, Blog Posts
  • Blogs
    Blog Roll

    FanGraphs
    Podcasts: FanGraphs Audio | Effectively Wild | Chin Music

    FanGraphs Prospects

    RotoGraphs
    Podcasts: The Sleeper and The Bust | Field of Streams | Beat the Shift

    Community Research

    Archived Blogs: The Hardball Times | NotGraphs | TechGraphs | FanGraphs+
    Archived THT: THT Live | Dispatch | Fantasy | ShysterBall
    Archived Podcasts: Stealing Home | Doing It For Bartolo | OttoGraphs | UMP: The Untitled McDongenhagen Project
  • Projections
    2021 Pre-Season Projections
    ZiPS, ZiPS DC
    Steamer
    Depth Charts
    ATC
    THE BAT, THE BAT X
    2021 600 PA / 200 IP Projections
    Steamer600
    2021 Updated In-Season Projections
    ZiPS (RoS), ZiPS (Update)
    Steamer (RoS), Steamer (Update)
    Depth Charts (RoS)
    THE BAT (RoS), THE BAT X (RoS)
    3 Year Projections
    ZiPS 2022, ZiPS 2023
    Auction Calculator
    Auction Calculator (New Interface)
  • Scores
    Today
    Live Scoreboard, Probable Pitchers
    Live Daily Leaderboards
    Win Probability & Box Scores
    2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017...
  • Standings
    2021 Projected Standings
    2021 Playoff Odds, Playoff Odds Graphs
    ZiPS Postseason Game-By-Game Odds
    AL East
    AL Central
    AL West
    NL East
    NL Central
    NL West
  • Leaders
    Major League Leaders
    Batting: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, Career
    Pitching: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, Career
    Splits Leaderboards
    Season Stat Grid
    60-Game Span Leaderboards (Special)

    KBO Leaders
    Batting, Pitching

    Minor League Leaders
    AAA: International, Pacific Coast, Mexican
    AA: Eastern, Southern, Texas
    A+: California, Carolina, Florida State
    A: Midwest, South Atlantic
    A-: New York-Penn, Northwest
    R: Appalachian, Gulf Coast, Pioneer, Arizona
    R: Dominican
    Legacy Minor League Leaderboards

    WAR Tools
    Combined WAR Leaderboards
    WAR Graphs
    WPA Tools
    WPA Inquirer
    Rookie Leaders
    Batters 2021, Pitchers 2021
    Splits Leaders
    Batters: vs L, vs R, Home, Away
    Pitchers: vs L , vs R, Home, Away
  • Teams
    Team Batting Stats
    2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017...
    Team Pitching Stats
    2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017...
    Team WAR Totals (RoS)
    AL East
    Blue Jays  |  DC
    Orioles  |  DC
    Rays  |  DC
    Red Sox  |  DC
    Yankees  |  DC
    AL Central
    Cleveland  |  DC
    Royals  |  DC
    Tigers  |  DC
    Twins  |  DC
    White Sox  |  DC
    AL West
    Angels  |  DC
    Astros  |  DC
    Athletics  |  DC
    Mariners  |  DC
    Rangers  |  DC
    NL East
    Braves  |  DC
    Marlins  |  DC
    Mets  |  DC
    Nationals  |  DC
    Phillies  |  DC
    NL Central
    Brewers  |  DC
    Cardinals  |  DC
    Cubs  |  DC
    Pirates  |  DC
    Reds  |  DC
    NL West
    D-backs  |  DC
    Dodgers  |  DC
    Giants  |  DC
    Padres  |  DC
    Rockies  |  DC
    Positional Depth Charts
    Batters: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, DH
    Pitchers: SP, RP
  • RosterResource
    Current Depth Charts
    AL East
    Blue Jays
    Orioles
    Rays
    Red Sox
    Yankees
    AL Central
    Cleveland
    Royals
    Tigers
    Twins
    White Sox
    AL West
    Angels
    Astros
    Athletics
    Mariners
    Rangers
    NL East
    Braves
    Marlins
    Mets
    Nationals
    Phillies
    NL Central
    Brewers
    Cardinals
    Cubs
    Pirates
    Reds
    NL West
    D-backs
    Dodgers
    Giants
    Padres
    Rockies
    In-Season Tools
    2021 Closer Depth Chart
    2021 Injury Report
    Offseason Tools
    2021 Opening Day Tracker
    2021 Offseason Tracker
    2021 Free Agent Tracker
  • Prospects
    Prospects Home
    THE BOARD!
    THE BOARD: Scouting + Stats!
    How To Use THE BOARD: A Tutorial
    Top Prospects List
    Top Prospects
    2021 2020
    AL
    BALCHWHOU
    BOSCLELAA
    NYYDETOAK
    TBRKCRSEA
    TORMINTEX
    NL
    ATLCHCARI
    MIACINCOL
    NYMMILLAD
    PHIPITSDP
    WSNSTLSFG
    AL
    BALCHWHOU
    BOSCLELAA
    NYYDETOAK
    TBRKCRSEA
    TORMINTEX
    NL
    ATLCHCARI
    MIACINCOL
    NYMMILLAD
    PHIPITSDP
    WSNSTLSFG

    • 2021 Preseason Top 100


    • 2020 Preseason Top 100

  • Glossary
    Library
    Batting Stats
    wOBA, wRC+, ISO, K% & BB%, more...
    Pitching Stats
    FIP, xFIP, BABIP, K/9 & BB/9, more...
    Defensive Stats
    UZR Primer, DRS, FSR, TZ & TZL, more...
    More
    WAR, UBR Primer, WPA, LI, Clutch
    Guts!
    Seasonal Constants
    Park Factors
    Park Factors by Handedness
  • Sign In
Help Support FanGraphs


Become a Member No Thanks
Already a member? Log In
  • Intro
  • Features
  • Offense
    • Complete List (Offense)
    • OBP
    • OPS and OPS+
    • wOBA
    • wRC and wRC+
    • wRAA
    • Off
    • BsR
    • UBR
    • wSB
    • wGDP
    • BABIP
    • ISO
    • HR/FB
    • Spd
    • Pull%/Cent%/Oppo%
    • Soft%/Med%/Hard%
    • GB%, LD%, FB%
    • K% and BB%
    • Plate Discipline (O-Swing%, Z-Swing%, etc.)
    • Pitch Type Linear Weights
    • Pace
  • Defense
    • Overview
    • Def
    • UZR
    • DRS
    • Defensive Runs Saved – 2020 Update
    • Inside Edge Fielding
    • Catcher Defense
    • FSR
    • RZR
    • TZ / TZL
  • Pitching
    • Complete List (Pitching)
    • ERA
    • WHIP
    • FIP
    • xFIP
    • SIERA
    • Strikeout and Walk Rates
    • Pull%/Cent%/Oppo%
    • Soft%/Med%/Hard%
    • GB%, LD%, FB%
    • BABIP
    • HR/FB
    • LOB%
    • Pitch Type Linear Weights
    • SD / MD
    • ERA- / FIP- / xFIP-
    • Plate Discipline (O-Swing%, Z-Swing%, etc.)
    • Pace
    • PITCHF/x
      • What is PITCHF/x?
      • Pitch Type Abbreviations & Classifications
      • Heat Maps
      • Common Mistakes
      • PITCHf/x Resources
  • WE/RE/LI
    • RE24
    • Win Expectancy
    • WPA
    • LI
    • WPA/LI
    • Clutch
  • Principles
    • DIPS
    • Regression toward the Mean
    • Replacement Level
    • Sample Size
    • Splits
    • Projection Systems
    • Linear Weights
    • Counting vs. Rate Statistics
    • Park Factors
    • Park Factors – 5 Year Regressed
    • Positional Adjustment
    • Aging Curve
    • League Equivalencies
    • Pythagorean Win-Loss
    • Luck
  • WAR
    • What is WAR?
    • WAR for Position Players
    • WAR for Pitchers
    • FDP
    • fWAR, rWAR, and WARP
    • WAR Misconceptions
  • Business

Pitch Type Abbreviations & Classifications

by Piper Slowinski
April 4, 2012

Classifying pitches is more of an art form than a hard science. Each pitcher has a slightly different grip and arm action for their pitches, so the same pitches can technically look quite different depending on the pitcher. Roy Halladay’s two-seam fastball may move in a particular way in relation to his four-seam fastball, but that doesn’t mean all pitchers have similar movement patterns; every pitcher is unique.

That said, pitches tend to move in the same general way in comparison with one another, so it’s relatively easy to take a glance at a pitcher’s movement chart and tell what sort of pitches they throw. Here’s a sample movement chart for a right-handed pitcher (for left-handed pitchers, just imagine the mirror image of this chart). 

Note: these charts are presented from the catcher’s point of view. Also, pitches obviously don’t break “up” — gravity pulls every pitch down as it approaches the plate. These movement plots are based around a hypothetical pitch that has absolutely no spin, so when a pitch breaks “up”, it means that it does not fall as much on the way to the plate as a spin-neutral pitch would.

Fastballs

FA = fastball
FF = four-seam fastball
FT = two-seam fastball
FC = fastball (cutter)
FS / SI / SF = fastball (sinker, split-fingered)

You’ll see fastballs classified all number of ways, considering that pitchers throw a wide variety of pitches that are all 90-ish MPH and have similar movements. Four-seam fastballs are considered the standard, and you’ll see those either abbreviated as FF or FA. Two-seam fastballs are the other main type of fastball, and you’ll normally see those abbreviated as FT — although at Brooks Baseball they’re listed as sinkers (SI) since they tend to act in a similar manner.

When you the abbreviation FA in conjunction with FT, it represents four-seamers. But when you see FA as a stand-alone category and no other fastball type listed, it’s being used as a catch-all category that includes both four-seamers and two-seamers.

Cutters are essentially fast sliders that don’t break quite as much. And sinkers, splitters, etc. have similar horizontal movement to four-seam fastballs but don’t have as much rise.

Off-Speed

SL = slider
CH = changeup
CB / CU = curveball
KC = knuckle-curve
KN = knuckleball
EP = eephus

These are all relatively straightforward. Changeups have similar movement to fastballs, but they tend to sink a little bit more than four-seamers and (obviously) they travel considerably slower. Curveballs have the most break of any off-speed pitch, and sliders also have a large break and travel faster.

You may see some pitches classified as knuckle-curves, but they’ll be difficult to distinguish from regular curveballs on pitch movement charts. Curves and knuckle-curves generally move the same; the main difference is in how pitchers grip and throw them.

Other

UN / XX = unidentified
PO / FO = pitch out





PITCHF/x
 
Current CBA Details

Piper was the editor-in-chief of DRaysBay and the keeper of the FanGraphs Library.

2
Leave a Reply

Please Login to comment
2 Comment threads
0 Thread replies
0 Followers
 
Most reacted comment
Hottest comment thread
2 Comment authors
eliasWayne Recent comment authors
newest oldest most voted
Wayne
Guest
Wayne
You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

I want to compare first pitch strike percentages for a team pitching staff from last year to this year. Where can I find that information>

Vote Up0Vote Down 
8 years ago
elias
Guest
elias
You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

in pitch type what does ct stand for is it cutter or something else?

Vote Up1Vote Down 
8 years ago
You are going to send email to

Move Comment

Updated: Thursday, April 22, 2021 11:10 PM ETUpdated: 4/22/2021 11:10 PM ET
Player Linker - Contact Us - Advertise - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy
sis_logo
All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, and play-by-play data provided by Sports Info Solutions.
mlb logo
Major League and Minor League Baseball data provided by Major League Baseball.
Mitchel Lichtman
All UZR (ultimate zone rating) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman.
TangoTiger.com
All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com
Retrosheet.org
Play-by-play data prior to 2002 was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet.