Throwing 100 MPH Used to Be Exceptional. Now It's the Floor.
In 2015, 49 pitchers hit 100 mph all season. Last year it was 82. This year, 35 pitchers have already done it before May. What's happening to baseball?
Here's a number that stopped me cold when I read it this morning.
In 2015, 49 MLB pitchers threw a pitch at 100 miles per hour or faster over the entire season. By 2025 that number was 82. This year, 35 pitchers have already done it before we've hit May.
In less than a decade, throwing triple digits has gone from extraordinary to expected.
Baseball's velocity arms race isn't slowing down — and the gap between those who can touch 100 and those who can't is reshaping how rosters are built.
The Numbers Are Brutal for Hitters
Want to know why teams are obsessing over velocity? Look at what hitters do against 100+ mph fastballs: a .165/.248/.187 slash line.
Against a 90 mph fastball, that line jumps to .281/.365/.479.
That's not a marginal difference. That's the difference between a hittable pitch and one that functionally breaks baseball's offensive ecosystem. Triple-digit velocity has become one of the most reliable competitive advantages in the sport, and teams have figured out how to develop it systematically.
The Tech Behind the Arms Race
The shift happened because of technology — specifically Trackman, a radar and optical tracking system now found in pitching labs across the country. These labs measure launch angle, arm path, spin rate, and dozens of other variables, then give pitchers specific adjustments that unlock more velocity.
The results are remarkable. ESPN highlights Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler, who gained nearly 9 mph of average velocity over just three seasons through systematic training. Nine miles per hour. That's the difference between barely making a roster and being genuinely dominant.
And this isn't just happening at the professional level. High school players are hitting 101 mph. College prospects are clocking 102. Velocity development is being systematized at every level, not just discovered at the major league level.
What It Does to Roster Building
Teams have found that moving starters to the bullpen frequently unlocks sudden velocity jumps — when you don't have to pace yourself for seven innings, you throw harder. That's led to organizations strategically converting starters into elite relievers specifically to unlock their velocity ceiling.
It's also created a roster philosophy where fastball speed is a baseline requirement, not a differentiator. Pitchers who top out at 95 are increasingly fighting for limited spots against waves of guys who can touch 100 comfortably.
The Collector's Angle
High-velocity arms equal high card value potential. If you're looking at pitching prospects whose cards are still accessible, velocity is one of the first things to evaluate. A 20-year-old who's already at 100+ with a developing secondary pitch is a fundamentally different investment than one who tops out at 92.
The arms race isn't reversing — the next generation of pitching labs will push the baseline higher. Owning cards of elite velocity pitchers before they hit the majors is one of the smarter plays in baseball collecting right now.
The Bottom Line
Baseball transformed pitching into a velocity sport in less than a decade. Throwing 100 mph is no longer a highlight reel moment — it's a job requirement. The technology that made this possible isn't going anywhere. For collectors, keep your eye on the hardest throwers coming up through the system.