It happened in a flash. Did it skip your heartbeat? Three Minnesota Twins players had a heart-stopping incident when a speeding car went on the wing just moments away from their spring training complex.
Relief pitcher Jorge Alcala, along with his brother Juan, infielder Edouard Julien, and outfielder Matt Wallner, all witnessed the dangerous event unfolding right in front of them.
“I look up, and I just see a car flying,” Julien exclaimed, still disturbed by the incident.
It happened as they were heading to Port Charlotte, where the Twins were all ready to face the Rays in a Grapefruit League game. Alcala and his brother were in one car, whereas Julien and Wallner followed behind in another. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a car from the opposite lane veered into the median, snipped some bushes and trees, and glided into the air. So high that Julien could see the whole undercarriage as it hovered past them before landing on the other side of the road.
No one was hurt and no vehicle was struck! Nothing less than a miracle, tbh. But the players were left noticeably shaken by the entire experience.
“It was something really scary, a little traumatizing,” Alcala stated through an interpreter.
Julien expressed the sheer feeling of panic at that present moment. He recalled how the usually calm Wallner started shouting in disbelief as the vehicle bolted toward them. “It just jumps up, like six feet in the air,” he stated.
Though the game was halted due to rain, the impact of that close call lasted much longer. A split second somehow turned a usual drive into an unforgettable and unsettled experience. Even hours later, the players were shaking.
But despite everything, we couldn’t help but notice how a 24-year-old twin player has the potential to transform the team’s pitching lineup.
A young twin pitcher could create history for the fastest knuckleball in MLB
The Minnesota Twins player is none other than Cory Lewis. The right-hander has been making headlines in spring training with a nearly unhittable weapon, the knuckleball. His throwing speed is unbelievable, reportedly touching 87 mph, a velocity that can possibly set a brand-new record in the history of Major League Baseball.
Knuckleballs are synonymous with unexpected turns. Floating through the air with minimal spin, which makes it incredibly tough for batters to track. Most knuckleball pitchers in the past, like the legendary Tim Wakefield, relied on finesse, which kept their pitch speed in the mid-60s. Even R. A. Dickey, who achieved a Cy Young Award mostly because of his knuckleball, rarely pushed past 80 mph.
But Lewis?
He is turning tables and blending power with deception in such a way that the baseball world hasn’t witnessed before.
His track record in the Minnesota Twins minor league system is clear for all to see. In 41 appearances (39 starts), he has scored a 12-10 record with an astounding 2.50 ERA. More than 180 ⅓ innings, he has struck out 210 batters. Yeah, it is difficult to make contact against him.
But it’s not solely from the Minnesota Twins that a pitcher is pushing the heights of knuckleball velocity. The Detroit Tigers also acquired one – Kenny Serwa, whose viral hand-throwing knuckleballer showcased his incredible movement.
And as for Lewis, he will remain a prospect to watch. With refined techniques and control, his high-velocity knuckleball could become one of the most deadly pitches in the game.
The Minnesota Twins are having quite an eventful spring training, don’t you think?
The post Twin Pitcher Left “Traumatized” After Near-Fatal Encounter Along With 2 Teammates appeared first on EssentiallySports.
