Velocity, velocity, velocity. The secret on this period of baseball for pitchers, notably relievers, is velocity. On this 12 months’s postseason, followers will see a slew of hard-throwing pitchers make an affect.
Solely two pitchers averaged 100 mph on their fastball this season, however each reached the postseason. The Dodgers’ hopes additionally relaxation on a younger starter who averages greater than 99 mph on his fastball.
Not each pitcher within the playoffs depends on velocity — Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is averaging lower than 91 mph on his fastball, whereas Rangers starter Dane Dunning is barely above 90 mph — however they’re the exception to the rule.
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Here is a have a look at the hardest-throwing pitchers within the 2023 MLB playoffs.
Hardest-throwing pitchers in MLB playoffs
Twins nearer Jhoan Duran is effectively forward of the pack relating to velocity, averaging a exceptional 101.8 mph on his four-seam fastball. Blue Jays reliever Jordan Hicks is the one different pitcher averaging greater than 100 mph, sitting second on the record at 100.3 mph.
Listed here are the ten hardest-throwing pitchers within the postseason in 2023.
| Participant | Common fastball velocity (mph) | Group |
| Jhoan Duran | 101.8 | Twins |
| Jordan Hicks | 100.3 | Blue Jays |
| Bobby Miller | 99.1 | Dodgers |
| Aroldis Chapman | 99.0 | Rangers |
| Shintaro Fujinami | 98.4 | Orioles |
| Bryan Abreu | 97.6 | Astros |
| Grayson Rodriguez | 97.4 | Orioles |
| Spencer Strider | 97.3 | Braves |
| Tanner Scott | 96.8 | Marlins |
| Jesus Luzardo | 96.7 | Marlins |
Of the ten hardest-throwing pitchers within the postseason, six are relievers and 4 are starters. Dodgers rookie Bobby Miller is the hardest-throwing starter at 99.1 mph, whereas Baltimore’s Grayson Rodriguez, Atlanta’s Spencer Strider, and Miami’s Jesus Luzardo spherical out the underside of the record.
A handful of different pitchers can be a part of this group in the event that they had been wholesome. Orioles nearer Felix Bautista is third in all of baseball with a fastball averaging 99.5 mph, however he will not pitch within the postseason as a consequence of harm. Marlins starters Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez each common 97.5 mph or larger on their fastballs however are additionally out with accidents.
Orioles reliever Shintaro Fujinami is fifth amongst all postseason pitchers with a 98.4 mph common fastball, however whether or not he might be on Baltimore’s ALDS roster is undetermined after he struggled late within the season.
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Jhoan Duran stats
So, how does Duran’s velocity translate to outcomes? Duran has a profession 2.15 ERA and is averaging 12 strikeouts per 9 innings. He ascended to the nearer function on a full-time foundation for the Twins this season.
| Season | IP | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts | Saves |
| 2022 | 67.2 | 1.86 | 0.98 | 89 | 8 |
| 2023 | 62.1 | 2.45 | 1.14 | 84 | 27 |
The Twins have relied on their beginning pitching for a lot of 2023, however Duran’s presence on the again finish of the bullpen might be extraordinarily beneficial as he makes his postseason debut.