Full Breakdown
Jacob Misiorowski Sets World Series Fastball Record in Opening Game
By Drooid · · How we work
Record-Breaking First Pitch
In the opening game of the 2026 World Series, Milwaukee’s 24-year-old right-hander Jacob Misiorowski delivered a 103.5 mph fastball to Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz on his very first pitch. MLB’s Statcast system recorded the velocity at 103.5 mph, while the stadium video board displayed 103.4 mph. The pitch was taken for a ball high above the strike zone, and Misiorowski went on to allow one run on four hits over five innings, earning the Brewers’ first postseason win as a starter and helping Milwaukee secure a 3-2 victory.
Season Background and Velocity Milestones
Misiorowski’s 2025 debut season quickly turned into a breakout year. He reached 100 mph on 1,115 regular-season pitches, including a career-high 105.5 mph fastball to Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on June 27 (as reported by MLB data). A separate account notes the same 105.5 mph effort on June 26, confirming the pitch as the fastest ever recorded by a starting pitcher in the Statcast era that began in 2008. His four-seam fastball averaged 100.6 mph for the season, placing him in the 100th percentile for velocity and the 99th percentile for spin rate.
Game Details and Performance
During the World Series opener, Misiorowski threw 48 fastballs, 17 cutters, seven sliders and six curveballs. He recorded three strikeouts, gave up four hits and one walk, and struck out a season-low three batters. He generated 30 pitches at 101 mph or higher, 11 of those at 102 mph or more, and three that exceeded 103 mph. Only seven swing-and-misses were recorded, five of them on his fastball. Tampa Bay’s lone run came in the fourth inning after Jonathan Aranda walked, advanced on a double by Junior Caminero, and scored on Liam Hicks’ grounder to first baseman Jake Bauers.
Data & Statistics
- Record pitch: 103.5 mph (Statcast).
- 30 pitches >= 101 mph; 11 pitches >= 102 mph; 3 pitches >= 103 mph.
- 7 swing-and-misses total (5 on fastball).
- Postseason 100-mph pitch count: 134 of 260 pitches (as of the World Series).
- Career postseason 100-mph pitches: 154 (second-most since 2008, behind Aroldis Chapman).
- Previous World Series velocity record: 103.2 mph by Aroldis Chapman (2016).
- Prior highest starting-pitcher speed in the Series: 101.1 mph by Noah Syndergaard (2015).
Official Statements & Responses
Brewers manager Pat Murphy noted that Misiorowski’s regular-season dominance—often two strikeouts per inning—was “unrealistic” to expect in the postseason, emphasizing the adjustment required for playoff competition. Rays manager Kevin Cash described Misiorowski as “a special pitcher” and acknowledged that limiting him to five innings still represented a “small win” for Milwaukee.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is an extremely confident group,” — Kevin Cash, Rays manager
What’s Next
The series proceeds with Game 2 slated for the following night, where the Brewers will again rely on Misiorowski’s fastball to challenge the Rays’ lineup.