The major heat wave that has plagued much of the country during the week hasn’t been fun for many, and that includes MLB pitchers.
Minnesota Twins starter Jake Odorizzi took the mound in 94 degree temperatures with humidity, and gave up two runs in the first inning as the Twins ultimately lost 5-3 at home to the Oakland Athletics. Odorizzi made clear that he felt the conditions had a lot to do with his early struggles, saying it was like “pitching in a rainforest.”
Jake Odorizzi, on tonight's conditions: “It was only like pitching in a rainforest. The humidity, you felt like you were eating the air.”
He said he struggled with wet hands in a 2-run 1st inning because there was nothing dry to wipe them on.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 20, 2019
Typically when you think of weather issues impacting baseball games, it’s rain-related. Humidity can be a big issue for pitchers who rely on gripping the ball to get the job done, though, and that was the case here.
