Zack Greinke somehow managed to throw a changeup at a faster speed than his fastball

Despite being a massive disappointment in 2023, the Kansas City Royals are at least heading into the offseason with some positive momentum. They’ve won 10 of their past 12 games and still have Zack Greinke being Zack Greinke on the mound.

Even in his 20th MLB season, Greinke remains one of the more unique pitchers and personalities in baseball. Like, who else would shake off his own pitch call? Nobody. He’s one of a kind. That also applies to his pitch velocity — nothing about it needs to make sense.

Typically, a pitcher will throw a changeup to change speeds on a batter. It looks like a fastball out of the hand, but a drop in velocity and sharper movement is supposed to throw off the batter. On Tuesday, Greinke threw a changeup that was FASTER than his fastball. With Greinke, rules don’t matter.

Zack Greinke, 87mph Fastball and 88mph Changeup.

It doesn't have to make sense, if it's Zack Greinke. pic.twitter.com/tkOlmpvTqz

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 27, 2023

Now, this didn’t happen in the same at-bat. But it’s hilarious to see his fastball and changeup both settling in the high 80s. Last season, he matched velocities with those two pitches in one at-bat … also against the Tigers.

Either way, it worked wonders because Greinke went five innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball before the Royals bullpen let the game get away from them.

Fans also loved seeing that fastball-changeup combo from Greinke. He must be protected at all costs.