What Is The Fastest Baseball Pitch Ever?
Contents
What is the fastest baseball pitch ever thrown? The answer may surprise you!
Introduction
Pitching a baseball at high speeds is an impressive feat. The faster the pitch, the harder it is for the batter to hit the ball. A pitcher who can consistently throw fastballs is a valuable asset to any team.
The fastest baseball pitch ever recorded was thrown by player Aroldis Chapman in 2010. Chapman, a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, threw a fastball that was clocked at 105 miles per hour (169 kilometers per hour). This is the current record for the fastest baseball pitch ever thrown.
While Chapman’s fastball is certainly impressive, there have been other pitchers who have come close to breaking this record. In 2014, pitcher Nolan Ryan threw a fastball that was clocked at 104 miles per hour (167 kilometers per hour). Ryan, who pitched for both the California Angels and Texas Rangers during his career, is widely considered one of the best pitchers of all time.
Other pitchers who have come close to throwing the fastest baseball pitch include Joel Zumaya (103 miles per hour), Mark Wohlers (102 miles per hour), and Randy Johnson (101 miles per hour). Johnson, who pitched for several teams during his 22-year career, is also considered one of the best pitchers of all time. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Aroldis Chapman’s 105.1 mph Fastball
On September 24, 2010, Aroldis Chapman, then a relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, threw a fastball in a game against the San Diego Padres that was clocked at 105.1 miles per hour by the PITCHf/x system used by Major League Baseball. This was the fastest pitch ever recorded by PITCHf/x, and also tied the record for the fastest pitch ever thrown in an MLB game, which had been set by Mark Wohlers in 1995.
Nolan Ryan’s 100.9 mph Fastball
On August 20, 1974, Nolan Ryan of the California Angels threw a fastball that was clocked at 100.9 miles per hour. This is widely regarded as the fastest baseball pitch ever thrown.
While there have been some unconfirmed reports of faster pitches, this is the only one that has been officially recorded. The fact that it was thrown by one of the greatest pitchers of all time makes it all the more impressive.
If you’re a fan of fastballs, you’ll definitely want to check out this video of Nolan Ryan’s historic pitch.
Joel Zumaya’s 102 mph Fastball
In November of 2006, Detroit Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya delivered a record-setting fastball—102 miles per hour. This made him the fastest recorded pitcher in baseball history.
Zumaya’s accomplishment is even more impressive when you consider that he did it without the benefit of modern training methods or techniques. Zumaya is a self-taught pitcher who relied on his natural abilities to reach such high speeds.
Unfortunately, Zumaya’s career was cut short by injuries, preventing him from capitalizing on his record-setting fastball. Nevertheless, his place in baseball history is secure thanks to that one incredible pitch.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the answer to the question “what is the fastest baseball pitch ever?” is that there is no definitive answer. The record for the fastest baseball pitch ever thrown is held by Aroldis Chapman, who threw a 105.1 mph fastball in September 2010. However, there have been numerous unverified reports of pitches being thrown even faster than this.