What is the fastest pitch ever? History of fastest pitches in MLB, fastest pitch in 2023 (2024)

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, in 2023 and look at the all-time history.

Fastest pitch ever

1. Aroldis Chapman – 105.8 mph – Sep. 24, 2010
2. Aroldis Chapman – 105.7 mph – July 18, 2016
3. Aroldis Chapman – 105.4 mpg – July 18, 2016
4. Aroldis Chapman – 105.2 mph – July 22, 2016
5. Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph – Aug. 2, 2016
6. Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph – July 22, 2016
7. Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph – July 18, 2016
8. Jordan Hicks – 105 mph – May 20, 2018
9. Aroldis Chapman – 105 mph – July 23, 2016
10. 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 in 2023.

Fastest pitch in 2023

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran has thrown the fastest pitch in MLB this season. The fastest pitch in 2023 is 104.6 mph, thrown by Duran on May 24. Duran tied his mark for the fastest pitch in MLB in 2023 with a 104.6 mph fastball on June 2.

Fastest MLB pitches in 2023

1. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 104.6 mph – May 24 vs SF
2. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 104.6 mph -June 2 vs CLE
3. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 104.5 mph -June 2 vs CLE
4. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 104.4 mph – May 24 vs SF
5. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 104 mph – May 24 vs SF
6. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.9 mph – May 24 vs SF
7. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.8 mph – May 24 vs SF
   • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.8 mph – June 2 vs CLE
   • Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.8 mph – March 30 vs TOR
   • Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals – 103.8 mph – May 16 vs SDP
8. Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.6 mph – March 30 vs TOR
   • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.6 mph – May 29 vs HOU
   • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.6 mph – June 2 vs CLE
   • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.6 mph – June 2 vs CLE
9. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.5 mph – May 15 vs LAD
   • Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals – 103.5 mph – May 13 vs MIL
   • Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals – 103.5 mph – April 4 vs TOR
10. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.4 mph – April 29 vs KC
    • Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals – 103.4 mph – May 13 vs MIL
    • Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.4 mph – May 28 vs CLE
    • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.4 mph – May 28 vs CLE
11. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.3 mph – April 11 vs CWS
    • Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.3 mph – April 29 vs LAD
    • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.3 mph – May 28 vs CLE
12. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.2 mph – April 11 vs CWS
    • Ben Joyce, Los Angeles Angels – 103.2 mph – June 3 vs HOU
    • Ben Joyce, Los Angeles Angels – 103.2 mph – June 3 vs HOU
    • Camilio Doval, San Francisco Giants – 103.2 mph vs BAL
13. Gregory Santos, Chicago White Sox – 103.1 mph – April 22 vs TBR
    • Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.1 mph – April 26 vs SF
    • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.1 mph – May 28 vs CLE
    • Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.1 mph – April 26 vs SFG
    • Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 103.1 mph – April 29 vs KC
    • Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.1 mph – April 29 vs LAD
    • Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.1 mph – May 12 vs BOS
    • Ben Joyce, Los Angeles Angels – 103.1 mph – June 3 vs HOU
    • Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals – 103.1 mph – June 9 vs BAL
14. Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants – 103 mph – April 30 vs SD
    • Ben Joyce, Los Angeles Angels – 103 mph – June 3 vs HOU
    • Ben Joyce, Los Angeles Angels – 103 mph – June 7 vs CHC
    • Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 103 mph – June 7 vs TEX

Approaching June, there have been 21 pitches this season thrown at 103-plus mph, with Jhoan Duran, Jordan Hicks, Aroldis Chapman, and Gregory Santos responsible for the fastest MLB pitches this season.

Fastest fastball average in MLB 2023

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.

1. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins – 101.4 mph average
2. Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals – 101.2 mph average
3. Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals – 99.4 mph average
4. Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals – 99.3 mph average
5. Carlos Hernandez, Kansas City Royals – 98.9 mph average
6. Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds – 98.8 mph average

What is the fastest pitch ever thrown in history?

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.

History repeated itself a few years later, this time with the Yankees. Closing the game in the 9th inning, Chapman unleashed a 105.1 mph fastball against the Baltimore Orioles.

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.

Average MLB fastball velocity in 2022

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 MLB season

See Also

Aroldis Chapman and the 15 Fastest Pitches Ever Recorded

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.

Notably, it’s not Helsley’s only accomplishment this month. The Cardinals’ closer threw an immaculate inning – striking out the side on nine pitches – on Sep. 16.

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks threw the second-fastest pitch in MLB this season, a 103.7 mph fastball on Aug. 19. Once a starting pitcher, Hicks functions perfectly as a reliever with electric stuff including the fastest pitch in MLB in average mph and peak velocity.

Here are the fastest pitches thrown thus far in 2022. We’ll update the tracker, velocity via Baseball Savant, every few weeks.

• Jordan Hicks, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.7 mph on Aug. 19
• Jordan Hicks, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.4 mph (twice) on July 2
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 103.3 mph on Aug. 29
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 103.3 mph on May 14
• Jordan Hicks, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.2 mpg on Aug. 11
• Jordan Hicks, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.2 mph on July 12
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 103.1 mph on Aug. 19
• Jordan Hicks, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.1 mph on July 12
• Felix Bautista, RP, Baltimore Orioles – 103.1 mph on Aug. 23
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 103.1 mph on May 14
• Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 103.1 mph on May 1
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 103.0 mph on Aug. 29
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.8 mph on May 7
• Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets – 102.8 mph on Sep. 1
• Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals –102.8 mph on Aug. 27
• Andres Munoz, RP, Seattle Mariners – 102.8 mph on April 14
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.7 mph on Aug. 29
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.6 mph on Aug. 12
• Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals –102.5 mph on Aug. 27
• Andres Munoz, RP, Seattle Mariners – 102.5 mph on April 14
• Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 102.5 mph on Aug. 12
• Andres Munoz, RP, Seattle Mariners – 102.5 mph on July 5
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.5 mph on Sep. 4
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.4 mph on Sep. 2
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.3 mph on Aug. 29
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.2 mph on Sep. 2
• Jordan Hicks, RP, St. Louis Cardinals – 102.1 mph on April 17
• Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins – 102.1 mph on May 14
• Hunter Greene, SP, Cincinnati Reds – 102.0 mph on April 16

Check out a breakdown on the fastest pitch in 2021 further below.

Ben Joyce – Fastest pitch in college baseball

Amid the MLB lockout, college baseball is becoming increasingly popular and it couldn’t happen at a better time. One of the fastest pitches ever thrown in baseball history is at the college level. Tennessee Volunteers right-handed pitcher is unleashing gas against opponents, routinely hitting triple digits and touching 103 mph multiple times.

Incredibly, Joyce is doing this after missing the 2021 season following Tommy John surgery. Pitchers are normally returning with diminished velocity post-TJS, needing time to work their way back up to peak velo. Yet, Joyce makes 100-mph look easy. Needless to say, he’ll be on the radar of MLB scouts and Aroldis Chapman might have a challenger for the fastest pitch ever in a few years.

• Fastest pitch in 2022: 105.5 MPH, Tennessee Volunteers reliever Ben Joyce

Ben Joyce threw the fastest pitch in baseball in 2022, factoring in both the MLB and collegiate level. Facing the Auburn Tigers, Tennessee’s right-handed pitcher clocked a 105.5 mph fastball for a strike. Incredibly, per Wes Rucker, Joyce has thrown eight pitches at 103 mph or more this year.

Joyce was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, receiving a $1 million signing bonus. He immediately made his way to Double-A Rocket City and he could be just a year away from his MLB debut.

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.

Fastest pitch in MLB 2021

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Hicks, the only other active player to hit 105 with his fastball, is on the injured list. As a result, Chapman has faced little competition to retain his crown for the fastest pitch in 2021.

• What is the fastest pitch thrown this year? Aroldis Chapman, 103.4 mph vs. Matt Chapman (6/20/21)

deGrom likely won’t surpass Chapman’s fastball this season, but the front runner for NL MVP and Cy Young is blowing past his peers for average velocity.

• Jacob deGrom average fastball velocity (2021): 99.2 mph (1st)
• Jacob deGrom average slider velocity (2021): 91.5 mph (1st)
• Jacob deGrom averagechangeup velocity (2021): 91.4 mph (5th)
  • Stats via Baseball Savant

With deGrom sidelined indefinitely due to inflammation in his throwing arm, baseball fans must look elsewhere for arms throwing with serious gas. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of that as our quick look at the fastest throwing pitchers in MLB shows.

• New York Mets relief pitcher Miguel Castro’s average slider velocity (2021): 98 mph
• New York Yankees pitcher Jordan Montgomery’s average slider velocity (2021): 90.4 mph
• Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara’s average fastball velocity (2021): 98.1 mph (2nd)
• Fastest fastball in MLB: 100.7 mph, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase
• Fastest sinker in MLB: 98.1 mph, New York Mets reliever Miguel Castro
• Fastest changeup in MLB: 92.1 mph, New York Mets reliever Miguel Castro
• Fastest cutter in MLB: 100.2 mph, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase
• Fastest curveball in MLB: 85.2 mph, Colorado Rockies pitcher Germán Márquez
• Fastest splitter in MLB:89.5 mph, New York Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker

With the 2021 MLB season wrapped up, here are a few hurlers to keep an eye on in 2022 who could top the chart for fastest pitch in MLB next year.

• St. Louis Cardinals reliever Génesis Cabrera – 97.6 mph average (4th)
• Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol – 99.5 mpg

Let’s compare the data to reports and stories that predated modern tracking technology.

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.

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.