Consequently, it was no surprise to see him lean into his hammer as his premier weapon and most frequently thrown pitch overall, doing so 39.9% of the time in the low-80s.
It tunnels well off of the cutter, with 18.3 inches of vertical offset, 10.9 inches of horizontal offset, and an eye-watering 13 mph difference in velocity.
Interestingly, if this usage were to translate to MLB, it would rank as the highest curveball percentage usage amongst any pitcher league-wide (min. 1,000 total pitches).
The pitch boasts elite spin, averaging around 2,800 rpm. It consistently creates a sharp overall vertical drop (46.3 inches) and a late bite that consistently fools hitters.
Opponents struggle with just a .246 wOBA against, supported by a blistering 42.6% whiff rate. This clears the typical 40% threshold requirement of a plus offering.
It’s important to note the success he had in the bottom third of the zone, where the pitch mustered a mere 0.145 wOBA against.
When Luinder is forced to attack hitters at the bottom of the zone, the bender is a fantastic option. Regardless of location, this is his go-to strikeout offering, as evidenced by his 47.1% whiff percentage and 0.148 wOBA against in two-strike counts.
Sinker
Avila’s sinker sits comfortably at 94–95 mph with late arm-side life (12.6 inches of run) and some depth off the cutter (1.8 inches offset).