What’s the Fastest Recorded Pitch in Baseball?

The answer may surprise you! The fastest recorded pitch in baseball was thrown by Aroldis Chapman, clocking in at an incredible 105 mph.

Introduction

In baseball, speed is key. A pitcher with a high-speed fastball can be incredibly difficult to hit, which is why some of the sport’s biggest stars are known for their speed. But just how fast can a pitcher throw a baseball?

The answer may surprise you. The fastest recorded pitch in baseball history was clocked at 105 miles per hour (169 kilometers per hour)! That’s fast enough to break the sound barrier.

The pitch was thrown by Cuban-born right-hander Aroldis Chapman, who was playing for the Cincinnati Reds at the time. Chapman’s record-breaking fastball came during a game against the San Diego Padres on September 24, 2010.

While 105 mph is the fastest pitch ever recorded, it’s not necessarily the fastest that a pitcher can throw. In fact, some experts believe that Chapman may have been capable of throwing even faster than he did on that fateful day.

So how does Chapman’s record-breaking pitch compare to the average fastball? The average major league fastball is clocked at around 93 mph (149 km/h). That means Chapman’s pitch was more than 12 mph faster than the average!

The Fastest Recorded Pitches in Baseball

The fastest recorded pitches in baseball history were all thrown by Aroldis Chapman. Chapman, who is a left-handed pitcher, holds the record for the fastest recorded pitch at 105.1 miles per hour. He threw this pitch in a game against the San Diego Padres in 2010. Chapman has also thrown pitches at 104.8 miles per hour and 103.9 miles per hour.

Nolan Ryan

In 1974, fireballing righty Nolan Ryan set the all-time single-season strikeouts record with 383. He also blew away the competition in terms of fastest recorded pitches, averaging a blazing 98.6 miles per hour on his fastball that year. Unsurprisingly, Ryan also holds the record for the fastest single pitch ever thrown at a whopping 108.1 miles per hour. That fastball was clocked by the Guinness World Records in 1974 and has yet to be topped.

Aroldis Chapman

On September 24, 2010, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest recorded pitch in major league history. The pitch was clocked at 105.1 miles per hour (169.1 kilometers per hour). Chapman, who is from Cuba, made his major league debut with the Reds in August 2010. He is currently a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees.

Joel Zumaya

Joel Zumaya reached a top speed of 104.8 mph on a pitch to Marcus Thames of the Detroit Tigers in 2006. The pitch was thrown during the American League Divisional Playoffs.

Zumaya was techniques using PITCHf/x, which is a system that tracks the speed and movement of pitches.

The previous record for the fastest recorded pitch was 102.7 mph, set by Mark Wohlers of the Atlanta Braves in 1996.

The Fastest Recorded Pitches by Position

Pitchers are always looking for an edge, whether it’s a new grip, a better weightlifting routine, or just finding the perfect spot on the mound. But sometimes, the key to success is simply throwing the ball a little bit harder. Here are the fastest pitches ever thrown by position.

Pitchers

Pitchers have thrown the fastest pitches in baseball for years, but there have also been some very fast pitches thrown by other positions. The list below shows the top 10 fastest pitches ever recorded in baseball, regardless of position.

1. Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 MPH
2. Nolan Ryan – 103.7 MPH
3. Joel Zumaya – 102.9 MPH
4. CC Sabathia – 102.6 MPH
5. Bob Feller – 102.0 MPH
6. Randy Johnson – 101.8 MPH
7. Jered Weaver – 100.9 MPH
8. Justin Verlander – 100.9 MPH
9. Steve Delabar – 100.8 MPH
10.. Fernando Rodney – 100..7

Catchers

In baseball, the speed of a pitch is measured by the distance the ball travels in feet divided by the time it takes to complete its flight. The faster the pitch, the harder it is for the batter to hit. Major League Baseball tracks the fastest pitches thrown by each pitcher and each position.

The fastest recorded pitch by a catcher is 108 miles per hour, thrown by J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies on September 1, 2020. Realmuto’s pitch was clocked at 0.87 seconds from his hand to home plate, making it the fastest recorded pitch in baseball history.

Other catchers who have thrown fast pitches include Yan Gomes of the Washington Nationals (105 mph), Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs (104 mph), and Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals (103 mph).

Infielders

Infielders, as a group, don’t throw as hard as outfielders. But there are a few flame-throwers in the bunch. The current record holder is Aroldis Chapman, a relief pitcher who, in 2010, was recorded throwing 105.1 mph.

Other notable mentions include:

– Joel Zumaya, a reliever who hit 102 mph on the radar gun in 2005
– Jordan Walden, a reliever who hit 100 mph in 2010
– Craig Kimbrel, a closer who hit 100 mph in 2011

Outfielders

Outfielders have to cover a lot of ground, so they need to be able to run. That speed also comes in handy when they’re tracking down fly balls. The fastest outfielders can reach top speeds of over 30 miles per hour when sprinting.

One of the benefits of being a speedy outfielder is that you don’t have to worry as much about overthrowing the cutoff man. A strong and accurate arm is still important, but if you can get to the ball quickly, you have a better chance of making a good throw.

The following list includes the fastest recorded pitches by outfielders in baseball history.

-Billy Hamilton – 34 miles per hour
-Bryce Harper – 33.9 miles per hour
-Manny Ramirez – 33.7 miles per hour
-Mike Trout – 33.6 miles per hour

Conclusion

The verdict is in: Joel Zumaya’s 106 mph fastball is the fastest ever recorded in a major league baseball game.