There are some pitchers you remember because they dominated the league for a decade. And then there are the ones you remember because they looked like they were performing interpretive dance before each pitch.
This list is dedicated to the guys who made you say “what was that?” every time they toed the rubber. Their careers may not have been full of Cy Youngs and strikeout titles, but their windups were the stuff of baseball folklore.
20. Pat Venditte
The ambidextrous pitcher was mostly known for being a novelty act. His switch-pitching routine and mirrored windups were fun, but his results were forgettable.
19. Steve Trachsel
Nicknamed “The Human Rain Delay,” Trachsel’s long, deliberate windup had fans checking their watches. The pace didn’t translate into dominance, but it sure was memorable.
18. Dontrelle Willis
His high leg kick was as dramatic as his rookie season. Unfortunately, the rest of his career never quite reached that same height.
17. Kazuhisa Ishii
Ishii’s twisting, contortionist motion looked like he was unraveling a pretzel. He dazzled early with the Dodgers, but inconsistency derailed his potential.
16. Hideki Irabu
He arrived from Japan with hype and a funky delivery, but his MLB career fizzled fast. Yankees fans remember the windup way more than the wins.
15. Hideo Nomo
Nomo Mania was real, and so was that corkscrew delivery. He threw a no-hitter, sure, but his overall MLB run was more cult classic than sustained success.
14. Bronson Arroyo
That rock-and-fire windup was straight from a backyard wiffle ball game. His stuff wasn’t overpowering, but his delivery was unforgettable.
13. Mike Fetters
Fetters’ head-whip at the end of his windup was the stuff of nightmares for hitters—and comedy for everyone else. His results were mixed, but his pre-pitch theatrics were legendary.
12. Ryan Dempster
Dempster’s windup seemed to be trying to dislocate his shoulder on purpose. He had some decent years, but his mechanics were always the main attraction.
11. Kent Tekulve
Tekulve’s submarine style made it look like he was bowling a pitch. He succeeded as a reliever, but people mostly remember the delivery.
10. Joel Zumaya
Zumaya threw gas and looked like he was trying to launch himself off the mound. Injuries ended his career early, but that explosive windup stuck in our minds.
9. El Duque (Orlando Hernandez)
That leg kick went past his head and into highlight reels. His postseason moments shone, but he was more flair than sustained greatness.
8. Juan Marichal
Marichal’s towering leg kick was one of baseball’s coolest visuals. He had a strong career, but for many fans, that delivery is the first (and only) thing they recall.
7. Byung-Hyun Kim
The sidearm slinger’s windup was quirky, jerky, and unique. Unfortunately, most fans remember his World Series meltdowns more than anything else.
6. Brad Ziegler
Another submarine guy, Ziegler, scraped his knuckles on the mound. He got some saves, but his motion was his most valuable asset.
5. Mark Fidrych
“The Bird” talked to the ball and had a herky-jerky windup that matched his energy. He was a cultural phenomenon for one season, then disappeared from the spotlight.
4. Anthony Reyes
Reyes had a long, loopy motion that looked more like he was throwing darts at a bar than fastballs in a stadium. He peaked in a World Series start, but his career didn’t last long after.
3. Ugueth Urbina
His delivery was all elbows and knees and controlled chaos. He had some closing success, but off-field issues and erratic pitching abruptly ended his run.
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2. John Rocker
Rocker’s delivery was as intense as his personality—and that’s saying something. He flamed out as quickly as he rose, but the motion stuck with fans.
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1. Tim Lincecum
The Freak’s delivery broke all the rules and baffled hitters early in his career. While he won two Cy Youngs, his steep decline made his windup the enduring legacy.
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