Fastest pitches thrown by MLB starters this year:
Paul Skenes, 101.9
Jared Jones, 101.4
Jones, 101.3
Skenes, 101.2
Skenes, 101.2
Skenes, 101.2
Skenes, 101.1
Skenes, 101.1
Jones, 101
Skenes, 101
Skenes, 100.9
Skenes, 100.9
Skenes, 100.9Just a pair of 22-year old Pirates. 🔥🔥 https://t.co/11rR37Oe0B
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) June 4, 2024
The first thing hitters have to study when examining the scouting report of how to beat Skenes is his flame-throwing fastball. The good ol’ fashion number one is Skenes’ bread and butter, simply because it’s better than what any other Starting Pitcher is capable of tossing. Not only do the collection of MPH records back that up but it also has 5.4 more inches of break than the average MLB fastball in 2024 (none of the 10 pitchers above him are within 3 MPH). It’s been almost impossible for right-handed hitters to square up the inside fastball so far.
That unprecedented level of velocity combined with elite movement and precise accuracy makes his fastball one of the most lethal weapons in all of baseball, and it’s by far his favorite of his five pitches to throw (41.5% of the time). It’s hard enough to catch up to the 95 MPH heaters that some of these modern day pitchers now throw regularly, but Skenes takes it up a level with an average velocity of 99.3 MPH. The historic heater helps Skenes navigate batters early, puts patient hitters away, and is a big reason for his impressive dominance.
