Jacob Misiorowski is putting the finishing touches on one of the most absurdly dominant seasons we’ve ever seen from a starting pitcher. We’re talking about a guy who’s holding opponents to a ridiculous .159 batting average, and get this: no qualified starter in modern baseball history has ever posted a lower mark. Let that sink in for a second. It’s truly unbelievable.
The Raw Numbers Are Just Bonkers
This isn’t just a fluke, either. Misiorowski is a full-blown velocity king, hitting an insane 105.5 mph on the gun, the fastest ever recorded by a starter. But it’s not just pure heat. He’s striking out batters at a clip of 38.2%, a number that only Gerrit Cole in 2019 has topped in a full season since 2020. This dude isn’t just good, he’s historically good. He’s leading all of MLB in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, strikeout rate, and that jaw-dropping opponents’ batting average. This isn’t just the best pitcher on his team, he’s the best pitcher on the *best team in baseball* and a serious National League Cy Young favorite. It’s a complete transformation in just one year, turning a raw prospect with elite tools into the game’s most dominant starter.
How a 90 MPH Guy Shaped a 105.5 MPH Legend
Here’s where it gets wild: Misiorowski, the flamethrower who’s breaking records with triple-digit heat, grew up idolizing Adam Wainwright, a guy whose average four-seam fastball clocked in around 90 mph! Even Wainwright was taken aback when he heard it, quipping, “He might’ve gotten the first 92, 93 mph from me. The other 12 are on him.” Misiorowski never even met Wainwright until recently, but watching him as a kid in Kansas City, it wasn’t the velocity that grabbed him. It was Wainwright’s unflappable demeanor. “The biggest thing was his demeanor on the mound,” Misiorowski said. “Something bad happens, move onto the next pitch. There’s no care, no emotion with it.” That mental growth is a massive part of his development. His manager, Pat Murphy, told reporters, “Emotionally, he’s in a way better place. I always say, your first year you’re on rollerskates. You don’t feel the concrete on the ground… I feel like he’s taken off the rollerskates.” That mental toughness, combined with harnessing his control, building his powerful arsenal, and growing into his 6-foot-7-inch frame, has made him an absolute monster on the mound.
As this incredible season winds down, what Misiorowski has done is nothing short of legendary. He’s handled every bit of adversity thrown his way, showing us all what happens when elite stuff meets an elite mindset. The baseball world is going to be talking about this guy for a long, long time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply