Pitch is an American drama television series created by Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer, that aired on Fox from September 22 to December 8, 2016. The series was commissioned on May 10, 2016.
On May 1, 2017, Fox canceled the series after one season.
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 Major Leagues when she is called up by the San Diego Padres.
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.
The series was filmed in San Diego, California, and features the Padres, the club the protagonist plays for. Producers also planned to use Petco Park in downtown San Diego to shoot scenes when the Padres are away or during the off season.
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.
Pitch was canceled by Fox in May 2017 after one season. Despite strong reviews, the show faced tough competition, especially Thursday Night Football. Co-star Dan Lauria expressed his frustration, saying, âÂÂFox, in their infinite, but not so wise wisdom, has decided to cancel Pitch.â He added, âÂÂPitch was a great experience... our cast was the most professional I ever worked with, not a headache in the bunch.â Star Kylie Bunbury, who played Ginny Baker, shared her thoughts on Instagram: âÂÂGinny Baker has profoundly changed my life... I wasnâÂÂt ready to let go of Ginny, but more than anything I wasnâÂÂt ready to let go of my Pitch family.âÂÂ
For season 2, Showrunner Kevin Falls planned to begin with Spring Training, where "a lot of personal things happen to players" like injuries, trades, and manager changes. Ginny, no longer a rookie, would face the challenge of fighting to "win her job back," with Reilly noting, âÂÂWeâÂÂre not going to make it easy for her, but sheâÂÂs going to do it.â The season would also explore a storyline involving a gay player, which MLB quickly approved through its "department of inclusion." Ultimately, the focus would be on Ginny's comeback after her injury, with Reilly stating, "Ginny is very much alone and doesnâÂÂt have a lot of allies," setting up her journey of resilience and rebuilding relationships.
Pitch received positive reviews from television critics, with Bunbury's performance receiving praise. The editors of TV Guide placed Pitch fourth among the top ten picks for the most anticipated new shows of the 2016âÂÂ2017 season. Its review, from writer Liz Rafferty, stated, "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 had high praise for Bunbury, whom she cited 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 55 reviews, the show holds a 93% "Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "A terrific lead performance and well-constructed setup and timely themes make Pitch a home run." On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the show holds a score of 69/100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.