Slurve (SV)

Definition

A slurve is a breaking pitch that is a hybrid of a slider and a curveball. While a slider is thrown harder with tighter break, and a curveball is thrown slower with loopier break, a slurve is somewhere in between, relying on a combination of both horizontal and vertical movement.

While the average big league slider will be thrown with a velocity in the mid-80s, and the average curveball in the high 70s, a typical slurve will be in the low 80s. A slurve will break downward and toward a pitcher's glove side.

Grip

A slurve can be held like a slider or curveball. A pitcher might spin the ball more like a curve to create movement, but throw the pitch harder like a slider.

Origin

Famous pitchers throughout MLB history like Johnny Sain, Jim Kaat, Goose Gossage and Kerry Wood have been credited with throwing a slurve.

The "slurve" term has often been applied as slang for pitchers who throw a breaking ball that cannot be clearly defined as a slider or curveball.

Along with sweeper, slurve is one of the two new pitch type classifications Statcast added in 2023.