Jacob Misiorowski: The Hardest-Throwing Starter Ever

Jacob Misiorowski is recognized as the hardest-throwing starting pitcher in the hardest-throwing season on record, suggesting he is likely the hardest-throwing starter of all time. Baseball fans currently have the chance to witness this historical moment as Misiorowski faces the Cubs on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field in a series that could heavily influence the NL Central standings.

At just 24 years old, this title might seem grandiose, but proving it is simpler than disproving it. Among more than 3,600 pitchers who have started at least 20 games, Misiorowski has demonstrated that he throws harder than them all. His average fastball speed in the current season is 99.6 mph, placing him well ahead of the next closest pitcher, Bubba Chandler, whose average is 98.5 mph. This clear margin shows that no other starting pitcher comes close.

If one opts to round up and state that Misiorowski’s average fastball is 100 mph, it reflects the astonishing capacity he possesses; throwing over 100+ mph is notably routine for him. As of now, he has thrown 233 pitches exceeding the triple-digit threshold, while all other starting pitchers in MLB combined have a total of 149.

He leads the league with the eight hardest pitches recorded since tracking began in 2008, with 19 of the top 23 hardest pitches. Given his current trajectory, he is on track to break the record for most triple-digit pitches in a season, previously held by the Reds' Hunter Greene with 337 in 2022.

Misiorowski registers a 46% swing-and-miss rate with his fastball, the highest of any starter this year, contributing to an impressive overall strikeout rate of 35.5%, the highest recorded for a starting pitcher with at least 100 innings thrown. He also leads in FanGraphs’ “Stuff+” metric, showing his dominance in aspects like velocity and pitch movement, surpassing notable pitchers like Greene and deGrom.

While the increase in strikeouts correlates with declining batting averages, Misiorowski’s throwing power could also raise his injury risk. Determining if he is indeed the hardest-throwing starter ever is a nuanced challenge, as comprehensive data prior to the pitch-tracking era beginning in 2008 is scarce. Historical accounts of past pitchers like Sandy Koufax or Bob Gibson lack the precise velocity data.

Nevertheless, the last two decades of reliable tracking shows a clear upward trend in velocity. Baseball emphasizes that it’s now common for pitchers to train to throw harder, as attested by players like Mike Trout, indicating that today's pitchers are not only throwing harder but also transforming the game's standards. While legendary pitchers threw hard in their times, the evolution in training and conditioning has made the current achievements unprecedented.