Speed Demons: The Fastest Baseball Throws Ever Recorded
Throwing a blazing pitch is one of the most impressive feats a baseball player can achieve, and there’s good news for fans of high-speed fastballs: pitching velocity is on the rise.
The 2022 MLB season witnessed a record number of pitches surpassing 100 mph, totaling 3,356 triple-digit pitches.
This surge in velocity contributed to driving the batting average down to a historic low of .243.
Even at 39 years old, Justin Verlander showcased his prowess by delivering impressive pitches, including a 99.3 mph fastball, his fastest since 2017.
With numerous pitchers achieving such velocity, one wonders what the ultimate limit for pitching speed might be.
What is the fastest pitch ever thrown?
Aroldis Chapman holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest baseball pitch, clocking in at 105.8 mph.
He set this record on Sept. 24, 2010, while pitching for the Cincinnati Reds against the San Diego Padres.
Although there are anecdotes about other MLB legends throwing even faster pitches, such as Nolan Ryan’s 108.1 mph fastball in 1974 or Bob Feller’s 107.6 mph pitch in 1946, these speeds are difficult to confirm due to the older and less reliable technology used at the time.
After several seasons with the New York Yankees, Chapman recently signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals for the 2023 season.
Another Cincinnati Reds pitcher, Hunter Greene, may have surpassed 105 mph at the beginning of the 2023 season. He was recorded throwing a pitch originally listed at 105.2 mph.
Fastest pitch ever thrown in college baseball
Ben Joyce holds the record for the fastest-recorded pitch in college baseball history, according to MLB records.
On May 1, 2022, Joyce threw a 105.5 mph ball while playing for the Tennessee Volunteers against Auburn.
This pitch, just 0.3 mph below Chapman’s record, would have been the second-fastest in MLB history if thrown in a major league game.
Although Joyce’s historic pitch was not a strike, it showcased his remarkable speed, which he demonstrated consistently while playing for Tennessee.
In a June 10 Super Regional game against Notre Dame, Joyce threw at least 29 pitches over 101 mph.
Despite only one season of competition in the NCAA, Joyce was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the summer of 2022.
He has continued to deliver pitches with triple-digit speeds while playing for the Double-A Trash Pandas.
Joyce made his MLB debut on May 29, entering the game’s seventh inning against the White Sox. He pitched a scoreless frame with a top pitch speed of 102 mph.
Fastest pitch of the 2022 MLB season
Aroldis Chapman officially holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest baseball pitch, clocking in at 105.8 mph.
He set this record on September 24, 2010, while pitching for the Cincinnati Reds against the San Diego Padres.
Who has the hardest fastball in the MLB?
Aroldis Chapman is currently the active leader in fastball velocity, boasting a career average of 100.9 mph. His fastest pitches have been clocked at an impressive 105.1 mph.
How fast can a human possibly throw a baseball?
Throwing speed in the average person can vary significantly based on factors like age, gender, athletic ability, and training.
An untrained adult male typically throws a baseball at speeds ranging from 45 to 65 miles per hour (mph), while an untrained adult female generally throws at speeds ranging from 30 to 45 mph.
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