Jacob MisiorowskiIs Dominating the 2026 Cy Young Race
After putting together the two most ridiculous starts in Major League Baseball history from a pure velocity standpoint, Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski had to "settle" for topping out at just over 101 mph against the Chicago Cubs this past Tuesday.
Spoiler alert: It went perfectly fine.
The towering right-hander systematically dismantled his division rival, spinning six scoreless innings. He struck out eight batters, surrendered just three lonely hits, and issued a single walk on his way to a 5-2 Brewers victory. This dominant outing lowered his season ERA to a microscopic 1.89 through his first 10 starts.
But it’s not just the run prevention that has the baseball world buzzing. Misiorowski currently leads the majors with 88 strikeouts in just 57 innings. When you dig into the underlying data, it is incredibly easy to see exactly how he's making the world's best hitters look completely lost at the plate.
The Historic Context of 103 MPH
To truly appreciate what Misiorowski is doing in the 2026 season, we have to look at what he did in the two starts prior to Tuesday's matchup. In those outings, he was routinely hitting 103 mph on the radar gun.
According to MLB.com’s Mike Petriello, these are the hardest pitches ever thrown by a starting pitcher since MLB implemented its Statcast tracking system in 2008. In fact, baseball historians and analysts widely agree that Misiorowski might just be the hardest-throwing starting pitcher in the history of the sport.
We’ve seen relief pitchers like Aroldis Chapman, Ben Joyce, and Mason Miller touch 103 mph or 104 mph in short, one-inning bursts. But a starting pitcher maintaining that level of extreme pitching velocity over 80 to 100 pitches is completely unprecedented. It requires a flawless kinetic chain and explosive rotational power that we simply haven't seen in a starter's physique before.
Even on Tuesday, when he supposedly didn't have his absolute best stuff, Misiorowski's pitch data was mind-boggling:
- Average fastball velocity: 99.9 mph
- Maximum fastball velocity: 101.5 mph
- Average slider velocity: 94.4 mph
Let's pause on that last bullet point. A 94.4 mph slider is faster than the average MLB fastball. When a pitcher combines an upper-90s breaking ball with a triple-digit heater, it creates an impossible pitch tunneling scenario for the batter. By the time the hitter's brain registers the pitch out of the hand, it’s already too late to decide whether to swing at a straight fastball or a diving slider.
A Truly Wild NL Cy Young Race
It is officially time to recognize that Misiorowski has evolved from an erratic, up-and-down prospect with eye-popping velocity into a legitimate ace. However, capturing the NL Cy Young award is going to be an absolute dogfight.
The top of the National League pitching leaderboard is currently a traffic jam of historic performances. Here is a look at the elite tier of contenders Misiorowski is battling:
- Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers): The two-way phenom is pitching like a man possessed. Through 44 innings, Ohtani boasts an absurd 0.82 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP with 50 strikeouts. He is proving once again that when healthy, he is the most talented player to ever step on a diamond.
- Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates): The former No. 1 overall pick is continuing his meteoric rise. Skenes has logged 55 innings with a 2.62 ERA, but his 0.71 WHIP is what truly stands out. He simply does not allow baserunners, striking out 63 while walking only 8.
- Cristopher Sánchez (Philadelphia Phillies): The quiet workhorse of the group. Sánchez leads these contenders in workload with 64.1 innings pitched, maintaining a brilliant 1.82 ERA and racking up 80 strikeouts.
- Mason Miller (San Diego Padres): While relievers rarely win the Cy Young, Miller’s dominance out of the Padres' bullpen cannot be ignored. In 22.2 innings, he has a 0.79 ERA and an astonishing 45 strikeouts. He is striking out exactly two batters per inning, redefining the modern closer role.
The Elephant in the Room: Health and Durability
If there is one dark cloud hanging over Misiorowski’s historic campaign, it is his physical durability.
Baseball history is notoriously unkind to the ligaments and tendons of starting pitchers who regularly sit in the upper-90s, let alone those who flirt with 103 mph. The biomechanical stress placed on the elbow and shoulder at those speeds is immense.
We are already seeing some warning signs. Misiorowski has been forced to leave multiple starts this month due to severe cramping. While cramps are often dismissed as simple hydration issues, in high-velocity pitchers, they can also be an early indicator of muscular fatigue and immense physical strain.
Furthermore, we have to look at his innings limits. Misiorowski’s career high in innings pitched during a single professional season is just 97 1/3. Sitting at 57 innings already, he is on a crash course to shatter his previous workload maximum long before the playoffs begin. The Brewers' front office and training staff will face a monumental challenge in managing his arm fatigue down the stretch. They will likely have to weigh the importance of securing a division title against protecting their franchise cornerstone's long-term health.
For now, though, baseball fans should simply sit back and appreciate the spectacle. We are witnessing a pitcher push the absolute limits of human physiology every time he toes the rubber. Unless, of course, you happen to be the guy standing in the batter’s box—in which case, good luck.
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