Considering the easy motion of her delivery and the calm way Diara Payne slings it from the circle you would think she was just playing catch. Unfortunately, for hitters, she is not. Payne’s fastball and rise have plenty of velocity, and all of her pitches, from her curve to her changeup can hop from one side of the plate to the other. At the 2026 Hotshots Fall Exposure she dominated the competition with 10 strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched, and a 0.84 ERA. When hitters do manage to make contact, it’s on the ground and in the park. A mixture of good movement and reliable control makes her a force in the circle.