As expected, Jacob Misiorowski brought record heat to MLB’s biggest stage.
The Milwaukee Brewers ace threw a 103.5 mph fastball to Tampa Bay Rays leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz to open the 2026 World Series on Friday. It was the fastest pitch in the recorded history of the Fall Classic, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Tracking MLB pitches dates back to 2008.
This season, Misiorowski has entered the record books in several ways when it comes to throwing the ball hard. He still hasn’t surpassed Aroldis Chapman’s overall speed record of 105.9 mph, but he missed it by 0.4 mph in June. It was the fastest pitch ever thrown by a starting pitcher and the third hardest overall.
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It also took just one pitch for Misiorowski to break the MLB postseason velocity record, as his 104.8 mph fastball to open Game 1 of the NLDS represents the new high-water mark.
As impressive as Misiorowski’s fastest throws are, what really sets him apart in history is how often he hits triple digits. He threw 52 pitches over 100 mph in Game 1 of the NLDS, then 44 in Game 1 of the NLCS. After just five postseason appearances (three starts) in 2024 and 2025, he is already second in MLB history for 100 mph pitches thrown in the postseason.
That speed translated into historic dominance during the regular season, so much so that Misiorowski is the presumptive Cy Young winner in the National League. However, his two playoff starts before Friday weren’t quite up to par.
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The 6-foot-7 right-hander didn’t get past the fifth inning in his two outings against the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, with both teams finding ways to fight at-bats that few clubs did against Misiorowski in the regular season. After leading MLB in whiff rate on his fastball with a ridiculous 56.3 percent, according to Baseball Savant, Misiorowski threw just four such pitches against the Padres and five against the Dodgers.
The Brewers’ World Series hopes could rest on him avoiding a repeat against the Rays.
Gn sports
