Hitters Struggle Against Misiorowski's Historic Fastball
Jacob Misiorowski's triple-digit fastball has made him one of baseball's toughest pitchers to face, with hitters saying they essentially have to guess and hope. The Brewers ace led MLB in ERA, strikeouts, strikeout rate and WHIP while holding opponents to a record-low .157 average. He was set to start Game 1 of the NLDS against San Diego.
Before 2026, only Jordan Hicks had exceeded 103 mph as a starting pitcher in the pitch-tracking era, doing so twice in 2022. Misiorowski surpassed that threshold 136 times in the regular season and accounted for 365 of 369 starter fastballs at 102 mph or higher.
At 6-foot-7, he releases the ball about 7.6 feet from the mound, over a foot farther than Dylan Cease. That extension makes his four-seamer, which topped out at 105.5 mph, play even faster. He was scheduled to open the NLDS against San Diego.
Misiorowski’s dominance may draw more attention to pitching velocity and make his starts appointment viewing, affecting fans, broadcasters, and opposing teams. It could also influence how young pitchers train and how hitters prepare, though such trends may raise questions about arm health and competitive balance.