Major League Baseball pitchers are throwing harder than at any point in the pitch-tracking era. The average four-seam fastball from starting pitchers has risen to 94.6 mph this season from 91.8 mph in 2012. Hitters and pitchers alike describe the change as dramatic.
Three-time MVP Mike Trout said the shift is a frequent topic in clubhouses. He recalled facing average starter velocity of 90 to 91 mph early in his career and noted that the current average sits near 95 mph with more pitchers regularly exceeding 100 mph.
The numbers confirm the trend. Entering this season, starting pitchers had thrown a record 726 pitches of 100 mph or faster in a single year. In the first half of 2026 alone, that total reached 1,018, led by Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski, who is averaging 100.5 mph on his four-seamer.
Veteran hitters including Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson said the reduced reaction time has made their jobs noticeably harder. Several pitchers, including Misiorowski and San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller, credited training staff and conditioning programs for the gains.
