Rays Pitcher Kevin Kelly Threw a Disgusting Backdoor Slider With 23 Inches of Break That Fans Could Only Laugh at

This pitch was disgusting. And a called third strike.

Andy Nesbitt | Apr 13, 2023

Rays Pitcher Kevin Kelly Threw a Disgusting Backdoor Slider With 23 Inches of Break That Fans Could Only Laugh at /

In this story:

The Rays continue to be the surprise story of the first two weeks of the 2023 MLB season as they improved to a perfect 13–0 on the year with Thursday’s 9–3 victory at home over the Red Sox.

Right-handed reliever Kevin Kelly got the win on the mound for the Rays, who improved to 10–0 at home.

Kelly threw one of the most disgusting pitches of the MLB season during his 2 2/3 innings of work against the Red Sox, as his 76-mph backdoor slider defied physics by bending in at the last moment to catch the outside part of the plate for a called third strike.

Check this thing out:

That’s just ridiculous.

MLB fans agreed.

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Published Apr 13, 2023

ANDY NESBITT

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.