Ask AI: Is it allowed for an MLB pitcher to pitch underhanded (like in fast-pitch softball)?

Yes, it is **allowed** for an MLB pitcher to pitch underhanded! The official MLB rules do **not** prohibit underhand pitching. The relevant rule, **MLB Rule 5.07(a) - Pitcher's Delivery**, states only that a pitcher must deliver the ball to the batter while standing on the rubber and must use one of the two legal pitching positions (windup or set/stretch). It does not specify that the pitch must be overhand or sidearm. **Underhanded pitching is legal, but extremely rare** in Major League Baseball. Most pitchers throw overhand or sidearm because those motions generate greater speed and a downward angle, which are more effective in the context of baseball. Historically, pitching underhand was more common in the early days of baseball (1800s), but it faded out as the game evolved. **Notable examples:** - **Chad Bradford** was a recent MLB pitcher whose submarine style came close to underhand, but even he didn’t pitch fully underhand like a softball pitcher. - **Eddie "The King" Feigner**, famous for his fast-pitch softball, once threw against some MLB hitters in exhibitions, but not in official MLB play. **To sum up:** - Underhand pitching is legal in the MLB. - It's simply very uncommon due to effectiveness concerns, not because the rules forbid it. **If you saw someone pitch underhanded in an MLB game, it would be within the rules!**