Why Brewers’ Trevor Megill Has Baseball’s Strangest Mound Ritual
Trevor Megill’s Hilarious Baseball-Tossing Ritual: The Ultimate Guide for New Fans
Who Is Trevor Megill?
Imagine a baseball player who’s part closer (the pitcher who finishes games), part card collector, part DJ for the team’s victory songs, and part professional baseball thrower-away-er. That’s Trevor Megill of the Milwaukee Brewers!
His teammates and manager Pat Murphy lovingly call his habits his "shtick" – which is just a fun word for a signature routine or gimmick.
The Famous Ball-Throwing Ritual
What He Actually Does
Here’s the step-by-step of Megill’s most famous move:
- Catcher throws ball back to Megill on the mound
- Megill flips it to his right hand and inspects it intensely
- He looks at the umpire, holds the ball high above his head like the Statue of Liberty
- He asks for a new ball (this is the official signal)
- CHUCK! He throws the old ball toward the dugout like it personally offended him
IMPORTANT POINT: This isn’t a gentle toss. As teammate DL Hall puts it, Megill discards baseballs "with a visceral disdain" – meaning he throws them with genuine disgust!
By The Numbers
- 46 baseballs thrown away in his first 41 games (through July 25)
- That’s about 1.1 balls per game (teammate DL Hall guessed 5 per game – he was way off!)
- 50% of his throws are "spikes" – slammed straight down into the grass with maximum attitude
- 10 times he threw away a ball he had literally just received seconds earlier
The Full "Megill Experience" Routine
The ball throwing is just the finale. Here’s his complete pre-pitch ritual:
- Slow jog from bullpen – takes his sweet time arriving
- Uniform inspection – offers every piece of his uniform for the umpire to check (buys extra time!)
- Scouting report check – pulls a card from his back pocket before every single batter
- Hat flip – takes hat off, puts it back on, then does it again
- Belt loop yank – pulls up his pants by the belt loop behind his right hip after most pitches
- THE BALL TOSS – the grand finale described above
Why Does He Do It? The Theories
Everyone has a theory. Let’s break them down:
Theory 1: Buying Time
With MLB’s new pitch clock, maybe he’s stalling?
- Manager Pat Murphy’s take: "Big man." (Translation: Yeah, probably.)
Theory 2: The Ball Quality
Baseballs have mud rubbed on them and laces (the red stitching).
- DL Hall swears lace height varies ball-to-ball
- Some feel like "high school balls" (worse quality)
- Megill agrees completely – higher laces might give more spin on his signature knuckle curve
Theory 3: Mental Reset
Just taking a breath after a bad pitch or bad call.
Theory 4: Superhuman Spin Sense
Maybe as a high-spin pitcher, he can feel which balls will spin better?
The Real Answer: Pure Pettiness
"Most of the time, it’s just being petty." – Trevor Megill himself
That’s it. That’s the tweet. The man admits it’s mostly just attitude.
The "Pettiness Evolution" Timeline
Early Season (March – June 16)
- Threw balls mostly after bad calls or missed pitches
- Game 1 (March 29): Umpire called a strike a ball → YEET
- Next day: Missed his spot on 2-2 count → SPIKE into grass
The Turning Point: June 22 vs Cincinnati
- Batter Tyler Stephenson called timeout on a 2-2 count
- Megill waited, then struck a Statue of Liberty pose with the unwanted ball
- This changed everything
Since June 22: The "You Want Timeout? I’ll Give You Timeout" Strategy
- Only 1 ball thrown after a called ball without a timeout (and that was June 26)
- Now he waits for batters to step out
- His new rule: "Whenever they step back in, I call timeout. ‘Here’s your ball.’"
- He controls the timing now. The game plays at his pace.
The "Taxonomy of Tosses"
Megill has developed distinct throwing styles:
| Throw Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| The Spike | Slammed straight down with disgust | 50% (18 of 36 televised throws) |
| The Overhand Toss | Simple flick to ball boy | Common |
| The Bowl | Underhand roll along ground | Occasional |
| The Underhand Toss | Gentle upward flip | Rare |
Does It Actually Work?
Surprisingly, YES.
When Megill throws a ball away and gets a fresh one, here’s what happens on the very next pitch:
| Outcome | Count |
|---|---|
| Strikeouts | 8 |
| Hits Allowed | 2 |
| Outs on Balls in Play | 9 |
| Called/Swinging Strikes | 6 |
| Balls | 11 |
78% POSITIVE OUTCOMES (strikeouts + outs + strikes)
Only 22% "negative" outcomes (balls + hits)
KEY INSIGHT: Whether it’s psychology, routine, or actual ball preference – the man gets results.
What Teammates Think
- Chad Patrick (fellow reliever): "That’s just Trev being Trev."
- DL Hall (lefty reliever): "I’ll throw out a baseball or two if I don’t like the way it feels. But it’s nothing like Trevor."
- Pat Murphy (manager): "It’s part of his shtick."
Summary
Trevor Megill has turned throwing away baseballs into performance art. What started as frustration with bad calls evolved into a strategic pettiness campaign against batters who call timeout. He now controls the game’s rhythm, admits it’s mostly "just being petty," and backs it up with elite results (78% positive outcomes after a toss).
Is it gamesmanship? Superstition? A power move? Yes to all three. And it’s absolutely delightful to watch.
FAQ
Q: Is throwing the ball away allowed in MLB?
A: Yes! Pitchers can request a new ball anytime. Megill just does it with maximum drama.
Q: Does he get in trouble for spiking the ball into the mound?
A: Nope. As long as he requests a new ball properly (holding it up for the umpire), he can dispose of the old one however he wants.
Q: How many baseballs does an MLB game typically use?
A: About 100-120 baseballs per game total. Megill’s 46 over 41 games is a drop in the bucket!
Q: What’s a knuckle curve and why do laces matter?
A: A knuckle curve is a pitch that combines a curveball’s drop with a knuckleball’s unpredictable movement. Higher laces = more grip = more spin = nastier pitch.
Q: Has any other player done this?
A: Players occasionally toss balls they don’t like, but nobody does it with Megill’s frequency, variety, or theatrical flair. It’s uniquely his thing.