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What is the fastest pitch ever? History of fastest pitches in MLB, fastest pitch in 2024
By Matt Johnson,
2022-11-07
What is the fastest pitch in MLB? Aroldis Chapman can light up the radar gun like few others, while Jacob deGrom throws heat that no starting pitcher can match. But how do these flamethrowers stack up in MLB history.
There are few things more impressive in sports than witnessing a pitcher light up the radar gun. The ability to load up and fire a ball at 100-plus mph gets fans excited, makes hitters feel intimidated and leaves teams fantasizing about the possibilities of what that electric arm can do.
Let’s examine the fastest pitch ever, during the 2024 season and look at the all-time history.
Fastest pitch ever
Aroldis Chapman – 105.8 mph – Sep. 24, 2010
Aroldis Chapman – 105.7 mph – July 18, 2016
Ben Joyce – 105.5 mph – September 3, 2024
Aroldis Chapman – 105.4 mpg – July 18, 2016
Aroldis Chapman – 105.2 mph – July 22, 2016
Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph – Aug. 2, 2016
Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph – July 22, 2016
Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph – July 18, 2016
Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph – August 7, 2024
Jordan Hicks – 105 mph – May 20, 2018
Aroldis Chapman – 105 mph – July 23, 2016
Jordan Hicks – 105 mph – May 20, 2018
Further below you can provide in-depth answers about increasing pitch velocity, the fastest pitch ever thrown and the fastest MLB pitch this season.
The fastest pitch in history was a 105.8 mph fastball, thrown by relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman on Sept. 24, 10. Chapman also holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest baseball pitch ever recorded.
The fastest pitch thrown this season was a 105.5 mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels reliever Ben Joyce against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 3, 2024. Joyce threw the third-fastest pitch ever in MLB history.
Ben Joyce has thrown 1 pitch 105-=plus mph this season and 11 pitches at 104-plus MPH.
Fastest pitch in 2023
Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran threw the fastest pitch in MBL this season. The fastest pitch thrown this season was a 104.8 mph fastball, thrown by Duran against the Seattle Mariners on July 19. Duran has thrown the 10 fastest pitches in baseball this season, hitting 104 double-digit times.
Fastest MLB pitches in 2023
Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 104.8 mph – July 19 vs SEA
Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 104.6 mph – May 24 vs SF
Courtesy of Baseball Savant, here are the pitchers with the fastest average fastball velocity this year, with data collected through the first month of the season.
Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 101.8 mph average
Jordan Hicks, Toronto Blue Jays – 100.3 mph average
Felix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles – 99.5 mph average
Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers – 99.1 mph average
Carlos Hernández, Kansas City Royals – 99.1 mph average
Aroldis Chapman, Texas Rangers – 99.0 mph average
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians – 98.5 mph average
Shintaro Fujinami, New York Mets – 98.4 mph average
On Sept. 24, 2010, Chapman made MLB history. Then a rookie relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, the fireballer unleashed a fastball clocked at 105.1 mph by PITCH/fx. MLB later bumped that up to 105.8 mph.
Fastest pitch ever in MLB: Aroldis Chapman, 105.8 mph
Technology plays an instrumental role in the rapid velocity of fastballs and the tracking speed. Major League Baseball implemented the PITCH/FX system in 2006, allowing it to more accurately track the movement and speed of pitches, and the software kept improving over the years.
While many MLB statistics date back to the 1900s, data specific to movement and speed only comes from modern technology. As a result, Aroldis Chapman is credited with throwing the fastest pitch in MLB history.
Chapman did it again the following year, a wild pitch that nearly hit All-Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen in the face.
Aroldis Chapman’s fastball is widely regarded as the fastest pitch in MLB today. In fact, even after more than 575 career innings and countless pitches hitting 100-plus mph, he also holds the title this season.
Some of the fastest pitchers in 2022 clocked over 103 mph, with multiple relievers and even a few starters hitting 102 mph with relative ease. Unsurprisingly, MLB set a record for the highest average fastball velocity ever in 2022.
MLB fastball velocity 2022 (average): 95.6 miles per hour
As detailed by Jeff Passan of ESPN , pitchers delivered blistering heat on the mound this season. Back in 2008, MLB recorded only three instances of pitchers in the playoffs who threw fastballs 100 mph or faster. In 2022, there were 164 pitchers hitting triple digits with their fastball.
It’s all part of the revolution, movement and spin is paramount for off-speed pitches and velocity is treasured on fastballs. As we detail further below with data on the fastest MLB pitches in 2022, the numbers reflect how baseball changed.
Are pitchers throwing harder?
With technology becoming a greater resource for pitchers and more emphasis being placed on velocity, we are seeing players throwing harder than ever. As the graph below shows from Jeff Leach, the average fastball speed in MLB has skyrocketed since 2002 and it will likely exceed 95 mph next season.
For examples on this, we examine the fastest pitch from the MLB season, by each pitch type.
Fastest pitch in 2022
On September 22, St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley threw the fastest pitch in MLB this season with a 104 mph fastball against San Diego Padres slugger Josh Bell. The 104 mph pitch struck out Bell looking, sealing the final out of the eighth inning. It also just surpassed Helsley’s teammate for the title of fastest MLB pitch in 2022.
Check out a breakdown on the fastest pitch in 2021 further below.
Nolan Ryan and the history of velocity
Fastball velocities have ticked up over time. Between pitchers tweaking their mechanics and throwing with greater effort thanks to lower pitch counts, the radar gun is hitting triple digits like never before. FanGraphs detailed in Apri how the average fastball velocity jumped from 91.7 mph in 2008 to 93.7 mph this season.
The measurement of fastball velocity has also changed in recent decades, as Baseball America explained in detail. MLB changed the point at which it tracked the baseball coming in. With a pitch losing velocity as it leaves a pitcher’s hand and gets closer to the plate, the specific moment the baseball is clocked matters.
It’s why Nolan Ryan isn’t officially credited for throwing the fastest pitch. When the Hall of Famer was unleashing heat from 1966-1993, his fastball was being tracked closer to the plate. He was still credited with hitting 100 mph multiple times, topping out at 100.9 mph.
The documentary Fastball examined velocities and how different speeds might look if modern technology was used. It ultimately suggested Ryan hit 108mph. But Pitching Ninja later broke down why it’s difficult to determine the accuracy of that suggestion and he compared Ryan’s fastest recorded pitch to Hicks and Chapman frame-by-frame.
We might begin to see teams place less emphasis on velocity. MLB could explore rules to reduce the number of pitchers allowed on a roster, resulting in starters going longer into games and thus using less max effort on individual pitches. With that said, there will still be plenty of arms who will blow past 100 mph.
Fastest pitch ever FAQ
Can you throw 110 MPH?
Scientists do not believe as of now the human body is capable of throwing a baseball 110 mph. While there are instances of MLB pitchers throwing a ball clocked at 110 mph. that happened with balls that weigh significantly less than the average baseball.
What is Randy Johnson’s fastest pitch?
At the peak of his career, Randy Johnson threw a 102 mph fastball. It was one of the fastest pitches ever at the time and he lit up the radar gun like no other in his era. However, 102 mph is now hit several times a month by a handful of relief pitchers and even a few starting pitchers.
How fast was Roger Clemens fastball?
While Roger Clemens is one of the hardest throwing pitchers in MLB history, his fastball peaked at 98 mph and typically sat around 92-96 mph towards the latter half of his career. By today’s standards, that’s average fastball velocity for a front-line starting pitcher.
What is the fastest pitch in history?
Aroldis Chapman’s 105. 8 mph fastball is the fastest pitch recorded in baseball history. On that same day, Chapman threw a 105.4 mph pitch, the third-fastest pitch ever.
the radar has moved from the plate to the pitching mound. everyone needs to go watch the documentary " fast ball" they threw harder back in the days of ryan
Nick Ciraulo
2022-08-25
I saw a game on tv when Verlander was pulled for a relief pitcher.The announcer said the opposing team isn't getting a break from Verlander who was pitching at 103 mph because the reliever (I do not recall his name) can pitch at 104 mph.
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