MLBs Top 15 Fastest Pitches Ever: 2023 Edition
What are Major League Baseball’s fastest pitches ever? These rocket arms threw fastballs that generated unbelievable speeds and insane velocity.
MLBs Fastest Pitches Ever
We take a look at the top fastest baseball pitches in MLB history. These pitches have been measured using either Pitchf/x, Trackman or Hawkeye, which has evolved as a part of the Statcast era of baseball. What’s the speed of the fastest pitch ever? Let’s find out.
15. Mauricio Cabrera – 103.8 mph (2016)
Pitcher Mauricio Cabrera debuted in the MLB as a 22-year-old for the Atlanta Braves. On July 19, 2016, he clocked a fastball at 103.8 mph against Cincinnati’s pinch-hitter Tyler Holt.
Cabrera would only play five games in Major League Baseball. At the time, his pitch was the fastest in the Statcast era at the time thrown by anyone other than Aroldis Chapman.
14. Aroldis Chapman – 103.8 mph (2014)
The fastest baseball pitch thrown in 2014 was by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman. He threw a 103.8 mph fastball which was fouled off by Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt. It’s one of many of the fastest pitches ever that were thrown by Chapman, and he features on this list multiple times.
13. Aroldis Chapman, 103.9 mph (2015)
Aroldis Chapman pitched a 103.9 mph fastball on June 29, 2015 against Minnesota’s Brian Dozier which he fouled off. So dominant was Chapman at throwing high velocity pitches, MLB.com had a “Chapman Filter” on its Statcast leaderboard.
12. Camilo Doval – 104 mph (2022)
San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Camilo Doval threw a 104 mph fastball against the Arizona Diamonds on Sep. 23, 2022 with Alek Thomas at bat. Remarkably, Doval threw a 104.5 mph pitch the previous year in the minor leagues with the Sacramento River Cats.
11. Aroldis Chapman – 104.2 mph (2017)
While pitching for the New York Yankees Aroldis Chapman pitched the fastest ball of the season for the fifth year in a row in 2017. He registered 104.2 mph on Statcast on Sept. 1, 2017 against the Boston Red Sox which Dustin Pedroia managed to foul off.
10. Ryan Helsley – 104.2 mph (2022)
St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Ryan Helsley threw the fastest pitch of the 2022 season against the Milwaukee Brewers. Facing Rowdy Tellez, he threw a fastball that was recorded at 104.02 mph by Statcast.
Helsely isn’t just one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, he’s become one of the best pitchers overall and is often unhittable.
9. Jordan Hicks – 104.3 mph (2019)
On May 31, 2019 against the Chicago Cubs Jordan Hicks backed up a 103.7 mph throw with an even faster pitch. On the final pitch of the night Hicks threw a sinker to seal the win against the Washington Nationals.
Six of his 15 pitches in the game clocked over 102 mph. Hicks also has the accomplishment of having thrown the fastest pitch in three different seasons – 2018, 2019 and 2022.
8. Aroldis Chapman – 104.03 mph (2016)
Aroldis Chapman threw some of the fastest pitches in history on July 18, 2016 against the Baltimore Orioles. Facing Ryan Flaherty, Chapman threw a fastball that clocked 104.3 mph which was fouled off.
7. Aroldis Chapman – 104.04 mph (2016)
In the same game against the Orioles on July 18, 2016, Aroldis Chapman pitched a fastball that registered 104.4 mph, this time while facing Nolan Reimold. Remarkably, Chapman threw even faster on the very next pitch, registering the second fastest baseball pitch ever.
6. Jhoan Duran – 104.4 mph (2023)
Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran became just the eighth pitcher in Major League baseball history to have a pitch clocked at 104 mph or over. Facing Wilmer Flores, he threw a fastball at 104.4 mph on May 24, 2023.
5. Jhoan Duran – 104.6 mph (2023)
Jhoan Duran’s game against the Giants on May 24, 2023 was one of the most vicious MLB games we’ve ever seen from a pitcher. He hit 103 mph or over seven times in the single inning he pitched.
First, Duran clocked 103.3 mph, then followed it up with a 104.4 mph fastball, and backed it up with a 104.6 mph fireball.
4. Joel Zumaya – 104.8 mph (2006)
The fourth fastest MLB pitch of all time was thrown by Joel Zumaya as a Detroit Tigers rookie. He threw a 104.8 mph bullet to Frank Thomas of the Oakland A’s during Game 1 of the ALCS on Oct. 10, 2006
At the time it was the fastest baseball pitch of all time. Unfortunately Zumaya’s career was cut short, ending after only five seasons due to ongoing arm injuries.
3. Jordan Hicks – 105.1 mph (2018)
Jordan Hicks appears again on our list and on 20 May, 2018 he threw a 105.1 mph fastball which was very close to being the fastest pitch ever.
The Cardinals relief pitcher threw it to Philadelphia Phillies’ center fielder Odubel Herrera who also threw fastballs that registered 103.7, 104.2, 104.3 and 105 miles per hour in the same inning.
2. Aroldis Chapman – 105.1 mph (2016)
Aroldis Chapman’s game against the Orioles on July 18, 2016 was ridiculously fast. Of the 19 pitches he threw, 15 of them were above 100 mph, including a 104.4 mph fast ball to Nolan Reimold.
Chapman threw one of the fastest pitches ever, clocked at 105.1 mph when throwing to J.J. Hardy in the ninth inning. The Yankees won the game 2-1 and Chapman got the save.
1. Aroldis Chapman – 105.8 mph (2010)
On Sept. 24, 2010 Chapman threw the fastest pitch ever. Initially clocked at 105.1 mph by PITCH/fx, the MLB officially corrected the speed to 105.8 mph, the fastest MLB pitch in history.
It was Chapman’s rookie year in the MLB and the Cincinnati Reds missile launcher threw the pitch at PETCO Park against the San Diego Padres.
Chapman is considered to be one of the best left-hand relievers of all time. His average fastball in 2016 was a whopping 101 mph and he often threw pitches in the 103-104 mph range with ease.
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