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Ex-Hitter Forbes Dominates as Pitcher with New Sweeper
18 Oct
Summary
- Patrick Forbes, once a hitter, now excels as a pitcher.
- He added a sweeping slider to his arsenal for hitters.
- Forbes overcame injuries to improve his pitching performance.
Patrick Forbes, formerly a two-way player for the University of Louisville, has fully transitioned to pitching and is now the No. 11 prospect in the Arizona D-backs system. As a 22-year-old right-hander, Forbes is currently in the Arizona Fall League, where he is developing a new sweeper slider. This addition to his arsenal aims to keep hitters off balance, complementing his existing upper-80s cutter.
Forbes experienced a season limited to 29 2/3 innings due to a right flexor injury and elbow inflammation. In his recent appearances for Salt River, his new sweeper has shown significant horizontal movement, averaging 14 inches. He also commands a four-seam fastball that sits in the mid-90s, reaching up to 96.1 mph. Forbes is also adjusting his in-between-innings routines to better manage his arm health and maintain velocity throughout games.
His transition to a pitcher-only role involved overcoming past injuries, including a flexor issue early in 2026 and elbow inflammation in July. These setbacks prompted him to reassess his training, focusing on building arm strength progressively throughout the week. Forbes has now put his hitting aspirations behind him, concentrating on his development as a professional pitcher.
