Jacob Misiorowski: The 105 MPH Brewers Ace Starting Game 1 of the World Series
The hardest-throwing starter in the pitch-tracking era gets the ball on baseball's biggest stage. Meet the Miz.
When the Brewers needed someone to open the 2026 World Series, they turned to the most overpowering arm in baseball. Jacob Misiorowski got the ball for Game 1 against the Rays, and if you have not watched him pitch yet, you are in for a shock.
The Velocity Is Real
Misiorowski is rewriting the record books for starting pitchers:
- His fastball averaged about 101 mph in 2026. A typical starter sits around 95.
- On June 26, he threw a 105.5 mph pitch, breaking his own record for the fastest pitch by a starter since pitch tracking began in 2008.
- On May 8, three of his pitches hit 103.6 mph, at the time the hardest any starter had thrown in the Statcast era.
Relievers have thrown that hard in short bursts. A starter doing it deep into games is something the sport has never seen.
A Historic First Half
The results matched the radar gun. Through his first 13 starts of 2026, Misiorowski's 1.50 ERA and 0.81 WHIP both led the majors, and the advanced metrics agreed that it was no fluke. He also led baseball in strikeouts early in the season.
The Rookie Who Beat Skenes and Kershaw
His rise has been fast. As a rookie in 2025, he outdueled both Paul Skenes and Clayton Kershaw in head-to-head matchups and was named an NL All-Star replacement just five appearances into his career.
The October Question
There is one concern. Misiorowski pitched twice earlier in these playoffs and did not complete five innings in either start. The question for Game 1 was whether he could find the dominant form he showed all summer. Tampa Bay countered with Nick Martinez, a surprise choice over ace Drew Rasmussen.
For the full series breakdown, including rosters and storylines, read our Brewers vs. Rays World Series preview.
Why the Rules Help Him
Modern baseball suits a pitcher like Misiorowski. The pitch clock keeps hitters from slowing the game down to reset, and every close pitch can now be contested under the new ABS challenge system, which rewards pitchers who live on the edges of the zone.
What's Next for Baseball
After the World Series, baseball faces a very different fight off the field. Read our explainer on the looming MLB lockout, and follow every pitch of October in our MLB coverage.
Background from Wikipedia
Jacob Misiorowski
Jacob Walter Misiorowski ( miz-ə-ROW-skee; born April 3, 2002), nicknamed "the Miz", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025 and his first MLB All-Star appearance the same year. In 2026, he set the record for the fastest pitch thrown by a starting pitcher since tracking began in 2008. On September 8, 2026, Misiorowski became the first pitcher in MLB history to throw 1,000 pitches 100+ mph in one season, something no team in the speed-tracking era has ever done.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard does Jacob Misiorowski throw?
Misiorowski's fastball averaged about 101 mph in 2026, and he threw a 105.5 mph pitch on June 26, the fastest by a starter since pitch tracking began in 2008.
Who did Misiorowski face in World Series Game 1?
Misiorowski started Game 1 for the Brewers against Tampa Bay's Nick Martinez.
Was Jacob Misiorowski an All-Star as a rookie?
Yes. He was named a 2025 NL All-Star replacement just five appearances into his MLB career.
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