Why Parker Messick’s fastball is one of MLB’s best pitches

CLEVELAND — Guardians lefty Parker Messick reared back and fired a 1-2 four-seam fastball to Ryan Kreidler in the fifth inning on Tuesday. The Twins shortstop offered at the pitch, which was 4.18 feet above the strike zone, but merely got a piece of it.

Kriedler turned around and saw that catcher Austin Hedges had held on to the foul tip to secure Messick’s fifth strikeout of the night.