Pitch

Pitch Information

Pitch is an American drama television series broadcast on Fox that premiered on September 22, 2016. The series was commissioned on May 10, 2016.

Plot

The series, set in the confines of Major League Baseball, sets its focus on a young pitcher noted for her screwball pitch who becomes the first woman to play in the league, when she is chosen to play for the San Diego Padres.

Cast

Kylie Bunbury as Genevieve "Ginny" Baker, a rookie pitcher and the first female to play in Major League Baseball
Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Michael "Mike" Lawson, the Padres' veteran catcher
Mark Consuelos as Oscar Arguella, the Padres' general manager
Mo McRae as Blip Sanders, a Padres player and friend and former minor league teammate of Ginny
Meagan Holder as Evelyn Sanders, Blip's wife and Ginny's friend
Tim Jo as Eliot, Ginny's social media manager
Dan Lauria as Al Luongo, the Padres' manager
Ali Larter as Amelia Slater, Ginny's agent

Recurring

Michael Beach as William "Bill" Baker, Ginny's father
Bob Balaban as Franklin "Frank" Reid, the Padres' owner
Kelly Jenrette as Rhonda, Oscar's assistant

Episodes

| Viewers = 4.23 | ShortSummary = Ginny Baker becomes the first woman to play in Major League Baseball when she is called up from the minor leagues. Her first start is a disaster, with Ginny throwing just ten pitches, all balls, and not recording an out. After the owner forces the team's manager to keep her on, Ginny receives inspiration from both her father and the team's catcher and records the win in her second start. A series of flashbacks shows her journey from little league to today. It is revealed that her father actually died six years ago in a car accident. | LineColor = 900404 }}

| Viewers = 3.68 | ShortSummary = Ginny's presence is an extreme distraction for the team. A video surfaces of Al making misogynist comments about Ginny. In flashbacks, we see how Ginny met her agent. | LineColor = 900404 }}

| Viewers = 3.50 | ShortSummary = In a series of flashbacks we learn something new and unexpected about Ginny's past relationship. The Padres are envolved in a beanball fight and Ginny draws closer to being accepted as one of the guys. | LineColor = 900404 }}

| Viewers = 2.91 | ShortSummary = Baker is named to the All-Star team by the Commissioner, but surrenders a homer run to Salvador Perez. Her mom makes an uncomfortable appearance and it is revealed in a flashback that Baker's mom was having an affair with another man while Baker's father was still alive. Mike Lawson contemplates a career after baseball and the GM works covertly to sign a much sought after Cuban refugee catcher who may force Lawson out of a job. | LineColor = 900404 }} </ref> | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = | Viewers = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 900404 }} </ref> | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = | Viewers = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 900404 }} </ref> | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = | Viewers = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 900404 }} </ref> | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = | Viewers = | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 900404 }} }}

Production

Development

A pilot was sold on September 8, 2015, by series creators Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer. On January 14, 2016, Fox ordered the pilot to be shot. The creators opened up a casting call on February 24, 2016. The pilot episode was picked up to series on May 10, 2016. Major League Baseball cooperated in the production of the series.

Filming

The series is being filmed in San Diego, California, and will feature the Padres, the club the protagonist plays for. It also plans to use Petco Park in downtown San Diego to shoot scenes when the Padres are away or during the off season.

Casting

On January 14, 2016, Kylie Bunbury was cast as Ginny. On February 11, 2016, Mark-Paul Gosselaar was cast as Mike Lawson. On February 23, 2016, Mo McRae, Meagan Holder, and Tim Jo were cast as Blip, Evelyne, and Eliot respectively. On February 29, 2016, Dan Lauria was cast as Al Luongo. On March 10, 2016, Ali Larter replaced Elisabeth Shue as Amelia Slater. On May 10, 2016, Mark Consuelos was cast as Oscar Arguella, the team's general manager and president.

Critical reception

Pitch has received positive reviews from television critics, with Bunbury's performance receiving praise. The editors of TV Guide has placed Pitch fourth among the top ten picks for the most anticipated new shows of the 2016-2017 season. In its review from writer Liz Rafferty, "Not since Friday Night Lights have we seen a 'sports' show that managed to deliver week after week, making viewers feel as invested in the characters' personal dramas as we were in the final scores of the games" and added that "Pitch has the potential to pick up that torch." She also has high praise for Bunbury, who she cites as a "breakout star, not to mention her (fictional) character Ginny Baker, the first woman to pitch in the MLB, to be a role model for young female athletes everywhere". Based on 27 reviews, the show holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Critics Consensus being "A terrific lead performance and well-constructed setup and timely themes make Pitch a home run."