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The 7 Most Unconventional Submarine Pitchers In MLB Today And Why Their Low Release Point Still Dominates

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In the velocity-obsessed landscape of Major League Baseball in late 2025, a small, elite group of pitchers defies convention by throwing the ball not overhand, but from a near-ground level: the submarine delivery. This sidearm-with-a-lean style is one of baseball’s most unique and fascinating sights, generating extreme horizontal movement that modern hitters, trained to time 100 mph fastballs, struggle to square up.

The submarine pitcher is a rare weapon, typically deployed as a relief specialist to neutralize specific threats, often inducing a high volume of groundballs and breaking bats with pitches that appear to rise or sink dramatically. While the style has historical roots, its continued effectiveness in the analytics era confirms that deception and movement can still trump raw speed.

The Modern Submarine Arsenal: Active MLB Pitchers (2025)

Submarine and extreme low-sidearm pitchers are a distinct minority in the MLB, but their scarcity is part of their value. They offer a look that is completely foreign to most hitters, creating a massive platoon advantage and an elevated groundball rate (GB%). Here is a look at the most notable active practitioners as of the 2025 season:

1. Tyler Rogers (San Francisco Giants / New York Mets)

  • Team (2025): New York Mets (via trade/signing, or current team if not traded) / San Francisco Giants
  • Primary Pitch: Sinker, Slider
  • Signature Stat: One of the highest Groundball Rates (GB%) in baseball.

Tyler Rogers has become the face of modern submarine pitching. His delivery is one of the lowest in the league, with his hand scraping the dirt, and his effectiveness is undeniable. In a recent season, Rogers posted an impressive 2.30 ERA and a 3.32 FIP (Fielder Independent Pitching), showcasing his ability to limit hard contact. His sinker, which he throws nearly 80% of the time, generates a remarkable groundball percentage often exceeding 60%, making him a premier late-inning reliever who thrives on contact.

2. Adam Cimber (Los Angeles Angels)

  • Team (2025): Los Angeles Angels
  • Primary Pitch: Sinker, Slider
  • Signature Stat: High volume of innings pitched for a specialty reliever.

Adam Cimber’s delivery is a slightly higher, low-sidearm slot, but it retains the hallmark horizontal movement of the submarine style. While his recent 2024 season saw a challenging 7.03 ERA over 28 appearances, his career has demonstrated periods of high effectiveness, relying on a sinker that induces a solid groundball rate, historically around 51.2%. Cimber serves as a valuable bridge reliever, capable of getting quick outs against right-handed hitters.

3. Hoby Milner (Milwaukee Brewers)

  • Team (2025): Milwaukee Brewers
  • Primary Pitch: Sinker, Changeup
  • Signature Trait: A key left-handed specialist (LOOGY) with a low slot.

Milner is a crucial left-handed specialist whose low arm slot makes him particularly difficult for left-handed batters to handle. His sinker and changeup combination from that angle causes the ball to run away from lefties, making him an excellent situational reliever in high-leverage spots.

4. Justin Lawrence (Colorado Rockies)

  • Team (2025): Colorado Rockies
  • Primary Pitch: Sinker, Slider
  • Signature Trait: Known for a high-velocity, low-arm slot delivery.

Lawrence utilizes an extreme low-three-quarters to submarine slot, giving his pitches a strong sinking action. His approach is more power-oriented than some traditional submariners, using a unique release point to enhance the movement on his fastball and slider.

5. Ryan Thompson (Arizona Diamondbacks)

  • Team (2025): Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Primary Pitch: Sinker, Cutter
  • Signature Trait: Excellent control from the low slot.

Thompson has established himself as a reliable reliever, leveraging his low arm angle to generate weak contact. His sinker-cutter mix, thrown from the deceptive delivery, keeps hitters off balance and is a key component of his success in the bullpen.

The Mechanics of Deception: Why the Submarine Pitch Works

The submarine delivery is defined by a release point that is at or below the waist, with the pitcher's torso bent over at the waist. This is distinct from a traditional sidearm delivery, which is typically parallel to the ground. The unique biomechanics of this style create three primary advantages that make it so effective in the modern game:

Extreme Horizontal Movement and the "Rising" Fastball

Unlike an overhand pitch that moves vertically (downward), a submarine pitch generates incredible horizontal movement. A right-handed submarine pitcher’s fastball (sinker) moves sharply in on a right-handed batter and away from a left-handed batter. Critically, the low release point creates a unique visual illusion: to a batter, a low-thrown sinker can appear to "rise" as it crosses the plate, making it highly difficult to judge the true vertical break. This is why the submarine pitcher's sinker and slider are their bread and butter.

The Groundball Machine

The downward plane and sinking action of the submarine fastball/sinker are perfect for inducing groundballs. When a hitter swings at a pitch that is moving down and away, they are more likely to top the ball, resulting in weak contact or a routine groundout. This is a massive asset for a bullpen, as groundballs minimize the risk of extra-base hits and home runs. Pitchers like Tyler Rogers consistently rank among the league leaders in groundball rate.

Platoon Advantage and Unfamiliarity

The rarity of the submarine style is its greatest weapon. Hitters see hundreds of overhand pitchers per season, but only a handful of submariners. This lack of familiarity forces hitters to adjust their timing and sightlines dramatically. Furthermore, the angle is particularly devastating against same-handed hitters (right-handed submariner vs. right-handed batter), as the ball starts behind them and runs directly into their barrel, making it nearly impossible to hit cleanly.

Legends of the Deep: Submarine Pitchers in History

While only a few dominate the current MLB landscape, the submarine style is rich with history, having produced some of the most memorable and successful relief pitchers of all time.

Dan Quisenberry (1979–1990)

Known affectionately as "Quiz," Dan Quisenberry was the premier relief pitcher of the 1980s. He dominated with his sinker and slider, winning the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award five times and leading the American League in saves for five consecutive seasons. His career epitomized the bullpen mastery that a submarine delivery could achieve.

Kent Tekulve (1974–1989)

Instantly recognizable by his glasses and side-winding delivery, Kent Tekulve was a workhorse reliever for the Pirates and Phillies. He appeared in over 1,000 games in his career, relying on his unique arm slot and control to become one of the most durable and effective relievers of his era.

Chad Bradford (1998–2009)

A successful modern example, Chad Bradford was famously featured in the book and movie *Moneyball* for his high-value, unconventional pitching style. His delivery was so low that his knuckles often dragged the mound, and he consistently outperformed expectations by inducing weak contact and high groundball totals, proving the style's effectiveness well into the 21st century.

The submarine pitcher remains a fascinating anomaly in modern baseball. In an era where every team chases a 100 mph fastball, these low-slot artists prove that movement, deception, and a unique angle are just as valuable. They are the ultimate specialists, a small fraternity of hurlers who continue to baffle the best hitters in the world by throwing the ball where no one expects it.

The 7 Most Unconventional Submarine Pitchers in MLB Today and Why Their Low Release Point Still Dominates
submarine pitchers in mlb
submarine pitchers in mlb

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