The angle he throws from is unusual, and hitters notice
Kolek releases the ball from a low three-quarters slot, about 29 degrees above horizontal and 1.8 feet to the third-base side of the rubber.
177 tracked release points, averaging 5.4 feet off the ground.
How much of the zone he uses depends on the count
Kolek puts 66.7% of his pitches in the zone when he is behind and 39% when he is ahead.
57 located pitches behind, 41 ahead.
His pitches move in ways that fit together
Kolek works with 6 pitches: 4-Seam Fastball, Sinker, Changeup and Cutter, and a little else. The 4-seam fastball is 25.4% of everything he throws.
177 classified pitches in 2026.
One pitch of his moves in a way hitters rarely see
Kolek's 4-seam fastball carries 13.6 inches of ride against a spinless ball, the biggest vertical move in his arsenal.
45 thrown, averaging 94.3 mph.
He fills the strike zone and makes hitters beat him
Kolek lives in the strike zone: 45.8% of his pitches are in it, 80th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 80th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 109th in MLB.
This is the pitch he goes to when he needs the out
With two strikes Kolek goes to the slider: 18.6% of his two-strike pitches, against 6.7% the rest of the time.
43 two-strike pitches in 2026.
When he falls behind, hitters know exactly what is coming
Behind in the count Kolek throws a fastball 71.9% of the time, against 58.5% when he is ahead.
57 pitches behind in the count, 41 ahead.
Too much of the contact against him is loud
45.5% of the contact Kolek gives up is hit hard, 24th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 24th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 409th in MLB.
His fastball is the pitch everything else is built on
Kolek's 4-seam fastball averages 94.3 mph, and has touched 96.2.
45 thrown, 25.4% of his pitches.
When hitters connect off him, they hit it hard
Hitters average 89.9 mph off the bat against Kolek, 28th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 28th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 389th in MLB.
The contact he allows is the kind that finds grass
The quality of contact against Kolek projects a .350 average, 28th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 28th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 387th in MLB.
His ball is straighter than it should be
Kolek's stuff spins at 2,195 rpm, 36th percentile in the league.
177 pitches in 2026. 36th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 344th in MLB.
He falls behind hitters far too often
Kolek throws a strike on the first pitch 57.8% of the time.
45 plate appearances started in 2026.
He releases the ball about where everyone else does
Kolek releases the ball 6.3 feet down the mound, a shorter stride than most.
167 tracked pitches in 2026.
One pitch of his spins more than almost anyone's
Kolek's 4-seam fastball spins at 2,260 rpm, the highest in his arsenal.
45 thrown in 2026.
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The numbers behind these live in Pitch Data.
Take me there
The angle he throws from is unusual, and hitters notice
Kolek releases the ball from a low three-quarters slot, about 29 degrees above horizontal and 1.8 feet to the third-base side of the rubber.
177 tracked release points, averaging 5.4 feet off the ground.
He releases the ball about where everyone else does
Kolek releases the ball 6.3 feet down the mound, a shorter stride than most.
167 tracked pitches in 2026.
The numbers behind these live in Pitch Data.
Take me there
How much of the zone he uses depends on the count
Kolek puts 66.7% of his pitches in the zone when he is behind and 39% when he is ahead.
57 located pitches behind, 41 ahead.
This is the pitch he goes to when he needs the out
With two strikes Kolek goes to the slider: 18.6% of his two-strike pitches, against 6.7% the rest of the time.
43 two-strike pitches in 2026.
When he falls behind, hitters know exactly what is coming
Behind in the count Kolek throws a fastball 71.9% of the time, against 58.5% when he is ahead.
57 pitches behind in the count, 41 ahead.
He falls behind hitters far too often
Kolek throws a strike on the first pitch 57.8% of the time.
45 plate appearances started in 2026.
The numbers behind these live in Pitch Data.
Take me there
His pitches move in ways that fit together
Kolek works with 6 pitches: 4-Seam Fastball, Sinker, Changeup and Cutter, and a little else. The 4-seam fastball is 25.4% of everything he throws.
177 classified pitches in 2026.
His fastball is the pitch everything else is built on
Kolek's 4-seam fastball averages 94.3 mph, and has touched 96.2.
45 thrown, 25.4% of his pitches.
One pitch of his spins more than almost anyone's
Kolek's 4-seam fastball spins at 2,260 rpm, the highest in his arsenal.
45 thrown in 2026.
The numbers behind these live in Pitch Data.
Take me there
One pitch of his moves in a way hitters rarely see
Kolek's 4-seam fastball carries 13.6 inches of ride against a spinless ball, the biggest vertical move in his arsenal.
45 thrown, averaging 94.3 mph.
The numbers behind these live in Pitch Data.
Take me there
He fills the strike zone and makes hitters beat him
Kolek lives in the strike zone: 45.8% of his pitches are in it, 80th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 80th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 109th in MLB.
The numbers behind these live in Spray Chart.
Take me there
Too much of the contact against him is loud
45.5% of the contact Kolek gives up is hit hard, 24th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 24th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 409th in MLB.
When hitters connect off him, they hit it hard
Hitters average 89.9 mph off the bat against Kolek, 28th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 28th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 389th in MLB.
The contact he allows is the kind that finds grass
The quality of contact against Kolek projects a .350 average, 28th percentile.
177 pitches in 2026. 28th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 387th in MLB.
The numbers behind these live in Pitch Data.
Take me there
His ball is straighter than it should be
Kolek's stuff spins at 2,195 rpm, 36th percentile in the league.
177 pitches in 2026. 36th percentile among qualified pitchers in 2026, 344th in MLB.
Padres
Career team 2024–2025