Post created by: Ana and Colette
New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman threw a 103.3 mph pitch against the Boston Red Sox in May. It is the fastest pitch recorded this season.
We read an article from The Post and Courier, that talked about pitching velocities. We learned that from 2008-2013 the average fastball velocity increased from 90.9 mph to 92.0 mph. In 2008, about 5% of MLB pitchers could pitch at 95 mph or higher, and in 2015 9% could pitch at that speed. In the MLB, 80% of pitchers who threw 95 mph or higher appeared on the DL (disabled list) at one point in the season.
In 2010, the American Journal of Sports Medicine studies 23 professional pitchers for three seasons. 14 of the pitchers remained injury free and had a mean pitch velocity of 85.22mph. 9 pitchers were injured and had a mean pitch velocity of 89.22mph. The top three pitchers with the highest mean velocity all needed Tommy John surgery, which is needed when one tears an important ligament in the arm.
In recent years, pitchers have been throwing at a higher velocity which has been shown to increase their chances of needing Tommy John surgery. This connects to what we’ve been learning in class, because it shows the impact of speed and velocity in the baseball world, and how it can be harmful. The study also uses statistics to draw conclusions about velocity.
Comments