Sweeper

The "sweeper" is a type of breaking pitch in baseball, characterized by significant horizontal movement. Named after the sweeping action, it's defined by minimal vertical change and a relatively fast speed. Shohei Ohtani, a player for the Angels, uses a sweeper that has a lateral movement of over 40 cm (about 15 inches) and speeds around 140 km/h (87 mph).

Often referred to as a "slider that doesn't drop," the sweeper diverges from the typical slider, which moves diagonally. Instead, the sweeper's notable feature is its pronounced horizontal deviation. The sweeper gained attention in MLB from 2020 to 2022, becoming a trend, with more pitchers, including Ohtani, adopting it.

The grip used for the sweeper is the "two-seam grip," where the index and middle fingers are placed on the seams. When pitching, a characteristic feature is the slight sideways arm motion. This pitch is particularly challenging for right-handed batters, as its intense lateral break leads to swings and misses.