Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers have seen their average fastball velocity increase for the sixth straight year.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the average fastball velocity in MLB has reached 94.7 mph (about 152.4 km/h).
This marks a 2.8 mph (about 4.5 km/h) increase from 91.9 mph (about 147.9 km/h) recorded when MLB first began tracking pitch speeds in 2008.
Right-handed pitchers have shown a notable uptick in velocity, with this year’s average fastball speed hitting 95.2 mph (about 153.2 km/h), up from 95.0 mph (about 152.9 km/h) last year. Right-handed relievers, who typically go all out for shorter stints, are even faster, averaging 95.4 mph (about 153.5 km/h).
This trend of increasing velocity is also evident in Triple-A minor leagues.
Reports indicate that the average velocity in Triple-A has risen to 93.6 mph (about 150.6 km/h), up from 92.7 mph (about 149.2 km/h) when measurements began in 2022.
Coaches are noticing this velocity surge on the field.
Chad Tracy, the Boston Red Sox interim manager, observed that in Triple-A games, most relievers, lefty or righty, are throwing over 90 mph (about 145 km/h). It used to see guys coming in throwing around 88 mph (about 141 km/h) when it was ahead, but those days are gone.
Marcus Stroman, who debuted in the big leagues in 2013, remarked that it’s now expected that pitchers you’ve never heard of can hit 98 mph (about 157 km/h). In the past, you’d take note of a guy throwing 91 mph (about 147 km/h). Now, you assume even rookies will touch 98 mph (about 157 km/h). That’s how much training has advanced.
Players attribute this velocity increase to a better understanding of biomechanics, making it easier to learn how to throw heat.
The emphasis on developing high-velocity pitchers at the youth level is also accelerating this trend.
Currently, six MLB pitchers are averaging fastball velocities around 100 mph (about 161 km/h), with Mason Miller of the Athletics leading at 101.3 mph (about 163 km/h) and Edgardo Henriquez of the LA Dodgers at 100.6 mph (about 161.9 km/h) for relievers across both leagues.
This year, Milwaukee Brewers’ young gun Jacob Misiorowski has turned heads with his fastball, averaging 100.5 mph (about 161.7 km/h), up from 99.3 mph (about 159.8 km/h) last year. He set a record by throwing 670 pitches at speeds over 100 mph (about 161 km/h) in the big leagues.
As pitchers continue to dial up the heat year after year, batters face an increasingly daunting task at the plate.
Andy Green, the Mets’ bench coach, noted that hitting has become more challenging these days. Watching games, you realize there’s not just one type of fastball anymore. There are so many factors to consider now. With all the data available, understanding how a batter can effectively tackle different fastballs is crucial.