How relevant is the early sweeper boom to the current environment, where hitters are actively hunting the pitch? Matthews still leaned heavily on the pitch, throwing his sweeper 25.1% of the time in 2025, just a slight dip from 25.9% the year before. When the Twins acquired him before the 2023 season, one of the first changes they made was adding a sweeper. In its first season, hitters managed just a .210 wOBA against the pitch, with a 36.5% whiff rate. Even when it comes to same-handed batters, though, the sweeper might be overtaken by another tack soon.

Source: New York Times February 06, 2026 23:06 UTC