It was in 2008 that the major leagues started tracking pitches. After that, we were able to get more information about the ball thrown by the pitcher.
Redemption was one of them.안전놀이터 I could see how fast the ball was from a vaguely fast ball. Walter Johnson, who was the number one player in the past, was called the ‘Big Train’ because he heard the sound of a train passing by when he threw the ball. But there’s been a lot of speculation about how much Walter Johnson’s velocity will be (an average of 88 to 91 mph is the norm). Unlike then, now you can accurately grasp the speed of the ball thrown by the pitcher.
Nolan Ryan is the first pitcher in MLB history to reach 100 mph. Ryan threw 100.9 mph on August 20, 1974 against the Detroit Tigers. This was when speed guns first appeared. Ryan, who entered the Guinness Book of World Records, became the ‘world’s fastest ball thrower’.
At that time, velocity was measured at the point of flying 10 feet in front of home plate. Professor Alan Nathan, who publishes various research results by applying physics to baseball, said, “Assuming that a pitcher throws a ball 100 miles, velocity decreases by about 9 to 10% when the distance passes 55 to 58 feet.” (the distance between the mound and home plate is 60 feet 6 inches).
In other words, Ryan’s ball would have been faster if velocity had been measured with the latest equipment. The 108 miles claimed by some doesn’t make sense, but it’s theoretically possible. For reference, the 2010 Pitch/FX system is about 50 feet away from home plate, and the current Statcast fastens the ball as soon as it leaves the pitcher’s hand. Behind the rise in pitchers’ velocity was also the development of such technology.
While Verlander is still alive and well, Jumaya’s career has been cut short as quickly as his restraints. Suffering from various injuries since 2007, he disappeared from the major leagues for the last time in 2010. Jumaya later said, “Everyone asks me how to throw fast, but I want to give them the advice they really need. Take care of yourself first.”
Jumaya has only gone through the pitch tracking era for three seasons. Even then, he missed many games due to injury. In 2008–10, Jumaya pitched just 92.2 innings in 81 games. Nevertheless, in redemption, no one could follow Jumaya.
2008-10 Most 100-mile throws
537 – Joel Zumaya
193 – Henry Rodriguez
161 – Jonathan Broxton
Zumaya was soon surpassed. It was Aroldis Chapman. Debuting with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, Chapman opened a new era of redemption. On September 24 of that year, a strike to Tony Gwynn Jr. of the San Diego Padres was 105.8 mph. It is the highest restraint that has never been broken. First of all, Chapman’s best four-seam fastball velocity was not 100 mph. The average velocity of his pitches exceeded 100 mph.
Chapman averaged 100.3 mph on 162 four-seam pitches in 2010. In 2014, he further increased his four-seam average velocity to 100.9 mph (643 pitches), and in 2016 he rose to 101.1 mph (792 pitches). The average velocity of 101 mph in a single season is an area that only Chapman has enjoyed so far. Highest
average velocity in a single season (minimum 500 pitches)
101.1 miles – Aroldis Chapman (2016)
100.9 miles – Aroldis Chapman (2014)
100.8 miles – Yoan Duran (2022)
‘am. Until now, 100 miles has been the temptation of the devil for pitchers. He had things he had to give up instead of throwing 100 miles. It was health and self-control. The vast majority of 100-mph pitchers have either succumbed to injuries or collapsed from pitch insecurity. But Chapman is still playing in the major leagues. Chapman’s best four-seam velocity this year, entering his 14th year in the major leagues, is 103.8 mph.
There was no pitcher who could surpass Chapman in terms of velocity. However, there are plenty of pitchers who challenge. St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Hicks threw two 105-mph sinkers on May 20, 2018. Team Ryan Helsley, San Francisco Giants’ Camilo Dorval, Baltimore Orioles’ Felix Batista, and Cleveland Guardians’ Emmanuel Klasse are finishers who throw 100 miles. In an age of ever-faster velocity, 100 miles isn’t as special as it used to be.
The first pitcher to reach 100 mph since 2008 is Java Chamberlain. Chamberlain, who made his debut with the New York Yankees in 2007, was a prospect the Yankees particularly cherished. He predicted that Roger Clemens would become a starting pitcher and Mariano Rivera would become a bullpen pitcher. Of course, Chamberlain never became either Clemens or Rivera, but on April 6, 2008, he recorded 100.2 mph, making his mark as the first pitcher to throw 100 mph since pitch tracking began.
But Chamberlain didn’t mark himself as a 100-mph pitcher. The pitcher who represented the 100 mph at that time was Detroit bullpen pitcher Joel Zumaya. Jumaya, who appeared like a comet in 2006, threw 234 100-mph pitches that year, before pitch tracking was introduced. Three of these balls went 104 mph, a new major league record. In 2006, fellow teammate Justin Verlander won the Rookie of the Year award, but it was Ju Maya who drew attention for his restraint.
The most formidable challenger is by far Minnesota Twins Yoan Duran. Duran recorded 104.6 miles, his highest speed this season, against San Francisco on May 24. Duran, who made his debut last year, raises the bar a bit and gives a better feel for his current status in redemption.
2022-23 ‘102 mph’ Pitches
130 – Yoan Duran
91 – Jordan Hicks
55 – Ryan Helsley
Velocity isn’t everything. 100 miles unaccompanied by rules is just a veneer. Even so, the thrill of restraint will not disappear. As long as the sport of baseball exists, pitchers will instinctively aim for a faster ball. And we will continue to be crazy about that fast ball.