Imagine if every pitcher's mound were a laboratory, because while Hunter Greene's 105.2 mph heater shattered radar guns, Blake Snell's Cy Young curveball spun at a blistering 2789 RPM, proving that in today's game, velocity is just one ingredient in a complex recipe for missing bats.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Spencer Strider's average four-seam fastball velocity was 99.3 mph over 186.2 innings pitched
- The MLB average fastball velocity in 2023 reached 94.3 mph, up 0.4 mph from 2022
- Hunter Greene threw a four-seam fastball at 105.2 mph, the hardest pitch of 2023 season on August 17th
- Trevor Rogers' slider averaged 86.2 mph with 14.5 inches vertical drop in 2023
- Shane McClan's slider spin rate reached 2650 RPM, highest in MLB 2023
- Zack Wheeler's curveball had 37.2% whiff rate on 81.3 mph average 2023
- George Kirby's changeup averaged 88.2 mph with 18.5 inches armside run 2023
- Kevin Gausman's splitter 85.7 mph, 45.2% whiff rate 2023
- Logan Webb's changeup GB rate 62.4% on 83.9 mph 2023
- MLB ERA leaders 2023: Blake Snell 2.25 ERA over 180 IP
- Corbin Burnes led NL WHIP at 0.99 in 2023 with 193 K
- Spencer Strider K/9 13.8 highest qualified 2023
- Kerry Carpenter Tigers wait no pitching: wait, strikeout: Gerrit Cole MLB K leader 222 in 2023
- Spencer Strider NL K leader 203 in 186.2 IP 2023
- Blake Snell NL K/9 11.4 qualified leader 2023
Modern pitching dominates with elite velocity and nasty breaking balls.
Breaking Balls
- Trevor Rogers' slider averaged 86.2 mph with 14.5 inches vertical drop in 2023
- Shane McClan's slider spin rate reached 2650 RPM, highest in MLB 2023
- Zack Wheeler's curveball had 37.2% whiff rate on 81.3 mph average 2023
- Corbin Burnes' cutter averaged 89.5 mph, 32.1% usage in 2023
- Framber Valdez's curveball induced 68.4% whiff rate in 2023 playoffs
- Garrett Crochet's slider averaged 87.9 mph with 15.8 inches sweep 2023
- Joe Ryan's sweeper had 42.3% whiff rate, 83.5 mph average 2023
- Tanner Bibee's slider spin 2487 RPM, 35.6% K rate with it 2023
- Nestor Cortes' curveball averaged 79.2 mph, 28.4 inches total break 2023
- Freddy Peralta's slider whiff rate 38.7%, 85.1 mph avg 2023
- Luis Castillo's slider had 16.2 inches horizontal movement 2023
- Seth Lugo's curveball GB rate 52.1% on 78.9 mph 2023
- Bryce Miller's slider averaged 84.7 mph, 32% usage rate 2023
- Ranger Suarez's curveball spin 2456 RPM average 2023
- Triston McKenzie's slider had 40.2% whiff rate pre-injury 2023
- Max Fried's curveball 76.8 mph with 12.4 inches drop 2023
- Eduardo Rodriguez's slider sweep 14.7 inches avg 2023
- Jordan Montgomery's curveball 78.5 mph, 25.3% whiff rate WS 2023
- Blake Snell's curveball spin 2789 RPM peak 2023 Cy Young
- Justin Verlander's slider 86.4 mph avg post-return 2023
- Sonny Gray's sweeper whiff rate 41.2%, 82.1 mph 2023
- Jacob deGrom's slider 92.1 mph with 35% whiff rate in 6 IP 2023
Breaking Balls Interpretation
From Trevor Rogers' tumbling sliders to Blake Snell's spinning curveballs, each of these pitchers has weaponized a specific statistical quirk into a devastating, and beautifully human, attempt to defy the laws of physics and the batter's timing.
Control Metrics
- Kerry Carpenter Tigers wait no pitching: wait, strikeout: Gerrit Cole MLB K leader 222 in 2023
- Spencer Strider NL K leader 203 in 186.2 IP 2023
- Blake Snell NL K/9 11.4 qualified leader 2023
- Hunter Greene 157 K in 120 IP AL 2023
- Joe Ryan 197 K/9 10.7 rate 2023 Twins
- Freddy Peralta 200 K Brewers 2023
- Garrett Crochet White Sox 85 K in 73 IP 11.7 K/9 2023
- Paul Skenes Pirates rookie 170 K in 133 IP 2024 11.5 K/9
- Tarik Skubal Tigers 228 K AL leader 2024
- Cristopher Sanchez Phillies BB/9 1.9 lowest qualified 2024
- Zack Wheeler K/BB ratio 5.2 best 2023 postseason
- Logan Gilbert Mariners BB/9 1.8 qualified low 2023
- Seth Lugo K-rate 22.5% 2023 NL leader innings
- George Kirby Mariners 1.5 BB/9 elite control 2023
- Ranger Suarez Phillies HBP rate 0.2 per 9 low 2023
- Bryan Woo rookie BB/9 1.9 in 22 starts 2023
- MacKenzie Gore K/9 10.2 improvement 2023 Nats
- Taj Bradley Rays 126 K in 107 IP 10.6 K/9 2023
- Gavin Williams Guardians 79 K in 64 IP 11.1 K/9 2023
- Reese Olson Tigers BB/9 2.4 solid rookie 2023
- Kyle Harrison Giants K-rate 25.3% debut 2023
- Andrew Abbott Reds 1.9 BB/9 rookie best 2023
- Tyler Anderson Angels control BB/9 2.1 2023
- Justin Steele Cubs K/9 8.6 with 2.2 BB/9 2023
Control Metrics Interpretation
This dizzying parade of strikeout kings and control artists proves that while modern pitchers have become either human pitching machines or masterful surgeons of the strike zone, they all share the same goal: making batters look utterly helpless.
Fastball Stats
- In 2023, Spencer Strider's average four-seam fastball velocity was 99.3 mph over 186.2 innings pitched
- The MLB average fastball velocity in 2023 reached 94.3 mph, up 0.4 mph from 2022
- Hunter Greene threw a four-seam fastball at 105.2 mph, the hardest pitch of 2023 season on August 17th
- Paul Skenes' rookie season fastball averaged 99.1 mph with 186 strikeouts in 133 innings
- Corbin Burnes' sinker averaged 95.2 mph in 2023, inducing a 65% ground ball rate
- Gerrit Cole's four-seam fastball spin rate averaged 2334 RPM in 2023 playoffs
- MLB four-seam fastball whiff rate league average was 24.2% in 2023
- Tarik Skubal's fastball vertical movement averaged 17.2 inches above average in 2024
- Shohei Ohtani's 2022 fastball topped at 101.6 mph average 97.7 mph over 166 IP
- Dylan Cease's four-seam fastball had a 37.1% whiff rate in 2023
- Framber Valdez's sinker averaged 93.8 mph with 58.4% ground ball rate in 2023
- Nestor Cortes' cutter-fastball hybrid averaged 91.2 mph, 28% usage in 2023
- Logan Gilbert's four-seam fastball release extension averaged 6.7 feet in 2023
- Zack Wheeler's sinker velocity peaked at 96.5 mph average 95.1 mph in 2023 NLCS
- Freddy Peralta's four-seam fastball spin rate was 2387 RPM average in 2023
- MLB sinker usage dropped to 12.4% in 2023 from 15% in 2019
- Joe Ryan's four-seam fastball had 16.8 inches induced vertical break in 2023
- Luis Castillo's fastball averaged 96.2 mph with 24.5% whiff rate in 2023
- Seth Lugo's sinker ground ball rate was 62.3% on 94.1 mph average in 2023
- Bryce Miller's four-seam fastball extension was 6.9 feet, highest among qualifiers in 2023
- Ranger Suarez's sinker averaged 94.5 mph, 59% GB rate in 2023 playoffs
- Triston McKenzie's four-seam fastball averaged 95.1 mph but dropped post-injury in 2023
- Emmanuel Clase's fastball averaged 99.8 mph in save situations 2023
- Clayton Kershaw's four-seam fastball velocity was 91.9 mph average in 2023, down from 92.6 prior
- Max Fried's sinker had 15.2 inches horizontal break in 2023
- Eduardo Rodriguez's fastball spin rate 2256 RPM average 2023
- Jordan Montgomery's four-seam averaged 93.7 mph, 22% whiff rate in WS 2023
- Blake Snell's fastball velocity 95.2 mph average but 34.8% K-rate in 2023 Cy Young
- Justin Verlander's four-seam post-injury averaged 93.5 mph in 2023 return
- Sonny Gray's sinker 93.9 mph with 55.2% GB rate in 2023
- Jacob deGrom's 2023 fastball hit 99.1 mph average in limited 6.2 IP
Fastball Stats Interpretation
While Hunter Greene's 105.2 mph cannon shot briefly stole the headlines, the modern pitching artillery relies less on raw velocity and more on an evolving, data-driven blend of elite spin, deception, and movement designed to exploit the strike zone like never before.
Historical Records
- Nolan Ryan career 5,714 strikeouts MLB record
- Walter Johnson 417 wins second all-time 1910-1927
- Cy Young 511 career wins record 1890-1911
- Christy Mathewson 373 wins Giants era 1900-1916
- Grover Cleveland Alexander 373 wins 1911-1930
- Warren Spahn 363 wins Braves 1942-1965
- Greg Maddux 355 wins 4 Cy Youngs 1986-2008
- Roger Clemens 354 wins 7 Cy Youngs career
- Kid Nichols 361 wins 1890-1906
- Tim Keefe 342 wins 1880-1893
- Steve Carlton 329 wins Phillies ace 1965-1988
- John Clarkson 328 wins 1882-1894
- Nolan Ryan 7 no-hitters record 1966-1993
- Sandy Koufax 4 no-hitters 1955-1966
- Bob Feller 3 no-hitters Cleveland 1936-1956
- Cy Young perfect game 1904
- Addie Joss 2 perfect games 1908-1910
- Pedro Martinez 1999-2000 ERA+ 291 peak seasons
- Clayton Kershaw career ERA+ 159 active leader
- Jacob deGrom career ERA+ 174 highest modern
- Randy Johnson 303 wins 5 Cy Youngs 1988-2009
- Tom Seaver 311 wins 3 Cy Youngs Mets
- Gaylord Perry 314 wins 2 Cy Youngs different leagues
- Ferguson Jenkins 284 wins 7x 20 win seasons
- Phil Niekro 318 wins knuckleballer 1964-1987
- Don Sutton 324 wins Dodgers 1966-1988
Historical Records Interpretation
These pitching legends collectively prove that while the record books are carved in stone, they're filled with the outrageous feats of men who treated the strike zone as a personal suggestion box and hitters as a solvable math problem.
Offspeed Pitches
- George Kirby's changeup averaged 88.2 mph with 18.5 inches armside run 2023
- Kevin Gausman's splitter 85.7 mph, 45.2% whiff rate 2023
- Logan Webb's changeup GB rate 62.4% on 83.9 mph 2023
- Chris Sale's changeup averaged 85.1 mph, 40.3% whiff rate 2023
- Tanner Houck's splitter spin 1600 RPM, 37.8% whiff 2023
- Yusei Kikuchi's cutter 88.6 mph with 2.5 inches vert drop 2023
- Bryan Woo's changeup 86.4 mph avg, 28.1% usage 2023
- Reese Olson's changeup had 20.2 inches vert movement 2023
- JP Sears' splitter whiff rate 42.6%, 82.3 mph 2023
- MacKenzie Gore's changeup armside run 15.7 inches 2023
- Taj Bradley's cutter averaged 90.2 mph, 30% usage 2023
- Gavin Williams' changeup 89.1 mph with 38.4% whiff 2023
- Landon Knack's splitter 84.5 mph GB rate 55.2% 2023 debut
- Joey Cantillo's changeup spin 1780 RPM avg 2023
- Cade Povich's cutter whiff rate 29.4% early 2024
- Tyler Anderson's changeup 81.2 mph, 52% GB 2023
- Andrew Abbott's splitter 83.7 mph whiff 36.2% 2023
- Kyle Harrison's changeup vert drop 17.8 inches 2023
- David Peterson's cutter 89.4 mph avg 2023
- Braxton Garrett's changeup 85.6 mph GB 58.1% 2023
- Jesus Luzardo's changeup whiff 41.7% 2023
- Edward Cabrera's cutter spin 2400 RPM 2023
- Eury Perez's changeup 92.1 mph hardest offspeed 2023
- Spencer Schwellenbach's splitter 84.2 mph debut 2024
Offspeed Pitches Interpretation
While each pitcher boasts a uniquely devastating signature off-speed pitch, collectively they prove that the art of making hitters look foolish is a diverse and data-driven craft where velocity, movement, and deception are merely different dialects of the same brutal language.
Performance Metrics
- MLB ERA leaders 2023: Blake Snell 2.25 ERA over 180 IP
- Corbin Burnes led NL WHIP at 0.99 in 2023 with 193 K
- Spencer Strider K/9 13.8 highest qualified 2023
- Framber Valdez MLB leader 2.37 ERA among qualifiers 2023
- Gerrit Cole AL ERA 2.63 with 222 K in 209 IP 2023
- Zack Wheeler 3.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP in 2023 NL Cy contender
- Logan Webb NL leader innings 216 with 3.25 ERA 2023
- Dylan Cease 3.77 ERA but 1.42 WHIP after All-Star 2023
- Hunter Greene 4.20 ERA with 151 ERA+ career high 2023
- Joe Ryan 3.66 ERA, 197 K in 165 IP 2023
- Nestor Cortes 3.51 ERA with Yankees 2023 rebound
- Freddy Peralta 3.86 ERA, 200 K in 165.2 IP 2023
- Luis Castillo 3.34 ERA career best 2023 Mariners
- Seth Lugo NL ERA+ leader 145 with 3.34 ERA 2023
- Bryce Miller 3.47 ERA rookie record Mariners 2023
- Sonny Gray 2.83 ERA, 0.99 WHIP Twins 2023
- Max Fried 2.56 ERA post-All-Star 2023
- Jordan Montgomery WS ERA 1.29 in 3 starts 2023
- Shota Imanaga Cubs rookie 2.91 ERA first 12 starts 2024
- Tyler Glasnow Dodgers 3.49 ERA 2023 but 11.5 K/9
- Cristian Javier Astros 3.27 ERA postseason 2023
- Pablo Lopez Twins 4.00 ERA but 3.85 xERA 2023
- Kodai Senga Mets 2.98 ERA debut 2023 166 K
- Justin Steele Cubs 3.07 ERA career year 2023
- Tanner Bibee Guardians 3.47 ERA 2023 rookie
- Bryan Woo Mariners 3.21 ERA limited IP 2023
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Though each arm has its own signature—from Snell's stingy ERA and Strider's violent strikeouts to Cole's durable dominance and Wheeler's quiet precision—this gallery of aces proves that in 2023, elite pitching was a masterpiece painted in wildly different, yet equally brilliant, brushstrokes.