Five Pitchers Who've Mastered A New Pitch This Year

Great pitchers are always evolving, and this year, the five standout athletes below have taken their game to the next level by adding a new pitch to their arsenal.   From sharp movement to smart sequencing, these pitchers are proving that hard work and a willingness to grow make all the difference. Let's take a look at who's raising the bar in the circle.    Allison Baston may be relatively new to the circle, but her recent progress is turning heads. Despite only pitching for a couple years, she's currently learning not just one, but three advanced pitches under the guidance of Coach Jaci from the University of Tampa. A curveball, drop, and changeup are now part of her expanding arsenal, and she's embracing the challenge with open arms. “It's like drinking from a firehose,” Baston laughs. “But I love every minute of it.” What sets Allison apart isn't just her willingness to learn, but also the attitude she brings to the table. Grounded in her faith, she views the steep learning curve not as a burden but as an opportunity. Her relationship with the Lord, she says, gives her the strength to attack each new challenge with purpose and joy. As her command sharpens and her confidence grows, it's clear Allison isn't just adding pitches, but she's also building a foundation for a bright future ahead in the circle.     As she prepares to enter high school next year, Layla Norman is already pitching like a veteran. This season, she's mastered a devastating drop ball that not only falls off the table, but also features a subtle horizontal break that keeps hitters guessing. The pitch combines late, over-the-top movement with just enough side action to miss barrels consistently. Throwing with impressive velocity—sitting between 58 and 62 mph—Layla pairs speed with sharp movement, making her drop ball a true out pitch. It's the kind of tool that doesn't just get ground balls, it gets outs in pressure moments. With this new weapon in her arsenal, Layla is more than ready for the leap to high school competition. Her command, movement, and pitch IQ are all trending up, and her drop ball is quickly becoming one of the most effective pitches in her game.     Few pitchers can say they've mastered both a rise ball and a drop ball in the same season, but Emily Schultz has done just that, and with impressive true spin on both. This year, she's taken major strides in her development, becoming a dual-threat pitcher who can attack hitters at the top and bottom of the zone with equal command. What makes her even more dangerous is her focus on tunneling, which means she throws pitches that look identical out of her hand but break in completely different directions. It's an advanced concept that Emily is already embracing, showing poise and understanding beyond her years. Adding to her momentum, she recently hit a personal best of 58 mph on her walk-throughs, proving her strength and speed are catching up to her skill. With her sharp movement, smart approach, and dedication to the craft, Schultz is becoming a pitcher who hitters simply don't want to face.     Langston Coggins has already proven she's a versatile and effective pitcher with a strong foundation. Her screwball, drop ball, and changeup are all well-developed and game-ready. But this year, she's been hard at work adding a rise ball to her arsenal, and the results are promising. The rise ball is the missing piece that will allow Langston to attack hitters in all parts of the zone. With her natural ability to spin the ball and locate it, she's quickly gaining confidence in using the pitch in live situations. As she continues to refine it, the focus will shift toward sequencing—learning how to set up hitters and mix her pitches to keep them completely off balance. Once fully integrated, the rise ball will elevate her entire approach. Langston's commitment to growth and expanding pitch repertoire signal big things ahead.     A 2025 graduate and FGCU commit, Tegan Gabrielse has long made a name for herself with a powerful rise ball that climbs sharply through the zone. But this year, she's taken her pitching to another level by adding a deceptive new weapon: the scrise—a hybrid pitch that behaves like a rise ball but breaks away from left-handed hitters with screwball-like action. The pitch is already showing impressive late movement, making it a nightmare for hitters who think they've timed her rise just right. The scrise not only complements her existing strengths, but it also adds a new layer of complexity to her game that will serve her well at the next level. As she heads toward her college career at Florida Gulf Coast University, Gabrielse's evolving repertoire proves she's not just refining what she does best, she's expanding it.

Great pitchers are always evolving, and this year, the five standout athletes below have taken their game to the next level by adding a new pitch to their arsenal.