Why Off-Speed Pitches Win in Today’s Games: A Look at Whiff %

By Pierce Jones –

If you’ve spent any time digging through data on Baseball Savant, you’ve probably come across a column labeled “Whiff %.” It’s one of those metrics that sounds self-explanatory but actually reveals more about a pitcher’s true effectiveness than most people realize. 

Whiff % measures how often a batter swings and completely misses a pitch. It’s a simple percentage—swings and misses divided by total swings—but it’s one of the clearest indicators of how deceptive or overpowering a pitch really is.

Why does it matter? Because whiffs don’t rely on defense, luck, or umpire calls. They’re pure dominance. The higher the Whiff %, the more a pitcher is controlling the at-bat on their own terms. In a league where hitters are stronger and more prepared than ever, missing bats is the surest way to survive.

Here’s what the 2025 data shows us:

Something jumps off the page immediately: nearly every pitch at the top of the leaderboard is an off-speed pitch. Out of the top 50 pitches in baseball with the highest Whiff %, 48 are off-speed offerings. Only two are four-seam fastballs.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Sliders: 21 of the top 50 (42%)
• Curveballs: 11 (22%)
• Changeups: 6 (12%)
• Splitters: 5 (10%)
• Sweepers: 5 (10%)
• 4-Seam Fastballs: 2 (4%)

So, looking at the big picture: velocity still matters—fastballs set up everything else. But the idea that you can just throw hard and dominate is fading fast. I always tell guys: I have yet to know of anyone in the league who throws a 105 mph fastball, and that’s all they throw. 

Hitters want the fastball—that is what they train for and see most often. The best arms in baseball are those who can weaponize their off-speed pitches, pairing movement, spin, and command to make hitters swing.

When you look at the chart above and see the names at the top of the Whiff % leaderboard, you’ll notice a pattern. These pitchers all have at least one off-speed weapon they trust in any count. The slider or splitter isn’t the “secondary” pitch anymore—it’s the go-to. The foundation.

The takeaway is simple: If you want to miss barrels, you must develop your off-speed pitches. A great fastball might open the door, but it’s the off-speed and breaking “stuff” that keeps you there.

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