Braves pitcher John Gant had no idea his windup looked so weird
Atlanta Braves reliever John Gant made his MLB debut Wednesday night against the Nationals and instantly became an Internet phenomenon due to his unique (and bizarre) windup. Before each pitch, Gant takes a false step toward home plate, resets himself, and throws the ball. You really have to see it in motion.
Introducing @Braves prospect John Gant and one of the weirdest deliveries you'll ever see: https://t.co/IExkRK2UvG pic.twitter.com/JVJKMoE8f8
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 7, 2016
Astoundingly, Gant says that he didn't realize just how strange his delivery was until a former teammate pointed it out.
“I’ve been waiting for that moment for a long time.”
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) April 7, 2016
Welcome to The Show, John Gant. #ChopOn @Braves https://t.co/rPMRVrs54J
Gant's motion has become a bit more exaggerated over the past two years (Gant thinks he began using the step in 2014, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Here's Gant pitching for the Savannah Sand Gnats in 2014, when he was in the New York Mets farm system. The first step is much shorter, and he barely bends his left knee before delivering the pitch.
By 2015, the step had become far more deliberate (and more difficult for batters to deal with).
