Pitchers Throw Harder as Velocity Increases in Major League Baseball
Starting pitchers in Major League Baseball are throwing fastballs at higher speeds than in previous seasons. Data from 2008 to 2025 show a sharp rise in pitches exceeding 100 miles per hour. The increase has coincided with more arm injuries among pitchers.
sportsnet.caData from 2008 to 2025 show a sharp rise in pitches exceeding 100 miles per hour. The increase has coincided with more arm injuries among pitchers. Jacob Misiorowski, a 24-year-old pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, threw a 103.6 mile-per-hour fastball against the New York Yankees on May 8.
The pitch was the hardest thrown by a starting pitcher since Statcast began recording speeds in 2008. Misiorowski threw ten pitches at 103 miles per hour or faster during the game.
2008, pitchers threw 214 pitches at 100 miles per hour or more. In 2025, that number reached 3,701. Fastballs at 98 miles per hour or faster produced a strikeout rate near 30 percent last season, compared with 17 percent for fastballs at 97 miles per hour or below.
200 against fastballs over 100 miles per hour. 267 against fastballs at 95 miles per hour.
More than one-third of major-league pitchers have undergone Tommy John surgery after rupturing their ulnar collateral ligament. Teams now account for such injuries when evaluating young pitchers. Misiorowski threw 43 triple-digit fastballs against the Washington Nationals and 41 against the Yankees in recent starts.
Misiorowski uses his four-seam fastball more than 60 percent of the time. He releases the ball closer to home plate than most pitchers and maintains speeds above 102 miles per hour into the sixth inning.
