Top 12 Fastest Pitches in MLB History as of Today

Here are the top 12 fastest pitches ever recorded in Major League Baseball history, based on Statcast data: Aroldis Chapman holds the record for the fastest pitch ever recorded in MLB history.

Aroldis Chapman holds the record for the fastest pitch ever recorded in MLB history, throwing a 105.8 mph fastball against the San Diego Padres on September 24, 2010.

Ben Joyce made headlines on September 3, 2024, when he threw a 105.5 mph pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking the fastest pitch recorded since 2016.

Jordan Hicks is notable for being the only pitcher other than Chapman to reach the 105 mph threshold, achieving this feat twice with pitches clocked at 105.0 mph.

It’s important to note that these velocities are measured at the moment the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, as recorded by Statcast technology.

Historical Estimates (Pre-Statcast)

While not officially record-breaking by modern standards, these pitchers are fabled to have thrown incredibly hard, with some estimates even higher than Chapman’s official mark:

• Nolan Ryan: Widely believed to have thrown pitches in the 108-109 mph range. A pitch of his was famously clocked at 100.9 mph in 1974 by Doppler laser radar, but that measurement was taken 9-10 feet from the plate. When extrapolated to the modern 50-foot measurement point, it’s estimated to be around 108.1 mph.
• Bob Feller: Known as “Rapid Robert,” some computations from his era (1940s) place his pitches around 107.9 mph.
• Walter Johnson: “The Big Train” (early 20th century) was known for his blazing fastball, though accurate measurements are elusive. Estimates are often over 90 mph, which was extraordinary for his time.

It’s important to differentiate between the precisely measured pitches of the modern Statcast era and the often anecdotal or less scientifically measured speeds from earlier baseball history.