What A Thrill On The Hill These Melanated Mound Marauders Have Been So Far

When MLBbro.com started the vision of covering Black and brown players of Major League Baseball, it was to fill a gaping void left by mainstream media.

 

The lack of diversity of Black players in MLB has been covered by MLBbro.com and monitored every season including discussions with representatives of MLB.com.

 

 

But if Black players overall are a cause for concern just think about the minute number of Black pitchers that are represented?

Back in 2016, USA Today shined a pertinent light on the lack of diversity of Black pitchers.

 

Look at the numbers at the time.

• The percentage of Black players overall stood at eight percent. A number that in 2024 has shown only a slight improvement at 8.3 percent.

• Out of the eight percent represented at the time, there were only 14 Black pitchers out of the 449 throughout MLB.

• Of those 14 pitchers, there were seven starting pitchers and seven relievers.

Why is there a dearth of black pitchers in MLB?

 

It was brought up to three MLBbros from different levels of baseball. A front office executive, a manager and a player weighed in with different perspectives from financial to even family influence.

 

Dave Stewart (Then Arizona Diamondbacks general manager):

 

“When you think about it, the black pitchers have almost become extinct,” then Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart told USA Today. “There are a lot of reasons, I don’t know if any of them are valid, but it seems like a lot of teams take Black pitchers and convert them into infielders or outfielders. I know it happened a lot in the past, so maybe it’s still happening.”

Dusty Baker (Then Washington Nationals manager, now Special Adviser for the San Francisco Giants):

 

“The reason you don’t see a Black player converted into being a pitcher is because teams don’t have money invested in them,” Baker told USA Today. “Most of the white pitchers being converted, you have money invested in them.”

 

Chris Archer (Former ace pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays):

 

“People don’t really view athleticism transcending onto the pitchers’ mound, as you would an outfielder or shortstop,” he said. “You don’t think of it as an athletic thing to do. It’s really the last choice of the parents.”

 

That is why these pitchers are carrying a bigger responsibility than most realize. The pitching mound is one of the more glamorous positions in the sport, and these MLBbros are carrying the torch for the MLBbros of the future.

 

Black Pitchers On The Rise 

 

Jack Flaherty (Detroit Tigers):

 

It’s a coincidence that Flaherty, as of this writing, is pitching in Detroit against his old team, the St. Louis Cardinals. The game started out okay for him to say the least. He faced six batters, and he sat them all down with strikeout stories to tell.

 

 

Before joining the Tigers this season, Flaherty had an ERA of 3.58 with 706 strikeouts spread out over seven seasons in St. Louis. During that time, he kept his ears open for veteran leadership while practicing a strong work ethic. Now Black Jack is bringing that influence to Motown to influence the next generation of pitchers even though he’s still in his 20s.

 

“The adjustments that you have to make in the game,” Flaherty told MLBbro.com. “What you did to get here is great, and you hold onto those things, but you also got to be able to make adjustments. For pitchers, it’s start to start, really pitch to pitch, game to game, year to year.”

“It’s constantly understanding and evolving in that what you do is what you do, and that allowed you to get there, and then there are always a couple things you make adjustments to. And then just continue to put the work in.”

 

Right now, Flaherty sports a 4.91 ERA with 36 strikeouts in four starts. If things continue against the Cardinals, look for the K’s to increase and the ERA to decrease.

 

Hunter Greene (Cincinnati Reds):

 

This MLBbro pitcher is an acquired taste when it comes to baseball fans who are not paying attention. The third-year pitcher has the potential to be the undisputed ace in Cincinnati’s rotation. Something that was shown in real life over the weekend on April 27.

 

His second consecutive start pitching into late innings (at least seven) finishing the outing with six strikeouts while giving up only one hit.

 

MLBbro.com reporter Malik Wright has been monitoring the MLBbro’s progress up to the pitching masterclass in a recent Live on Tape at the ballpark segment.

 

 

 

While our MLBbro’s critics are coming from potential box score watchers looking at his ERA, the improvements are there due to his advanced statistics. But for the eye test, Greene as of late is getting better and better.

 

• He is forcing more ground balls in 2024.

• He is walking fewer batters this season.

• His home run rate has dropped to one-third of what it was in past seasons.

• All told if these things improve, his run allowed rate will drop which will keep the critics off his back.

 

MLBbro.com writer basically sums this all up in this bold headline. Hunter stopped being cute and started producing filthy stuff.

 

 

Triston “Dr. Sticks” McKenzie (Cleveland Guardians):

The Cleveland Guardians practiced patience with this MLBbro the way the Cincinnati Reds should with Hunter Greene. After dealing with a severe muscle strain that affected his pitching elbow, McKenzie was limited to only four starts last season.

 

This was after Triston burst into the spotlight as not only one of the most exciting MLBbro starters in the American League but overall, with an 11-11 record and an absurd 2.96 ERA, 190 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.95 in 191 innings.

 

This season our MLBbro has two wicked pitches that shows that his control is solid. Watch the video showing both pitches and their locations.

 

 

Right now, Triston McKenzie has a current record of 2-2 even though his ERA is holding at 4.91 with a WHIP of 1.68, he is currently pitching with a torn ligament trying the rehab route instead of Tommy John surgery.

 

Josiah Gray (Washington Nationals):

 

This article would not be complete without the addition of this MLBbro pitching sensation. He made his first All-Star game appearance and is well on his way to a strong career.

 

 

However now Gray is on the IL with a muscle strain that has affected his production mightily. Hopefully the injury stays within the muscle and away from the ligament which could keep our MLBbro out for much longer.

 

The Up and comers MLBbro.com has an eye on:

 

MLBbro.com went deep into the early progress of Jordan Hicks, Xzavion Curry and Simeon Woods Ricardson, more pitchers that believe their time is now.