Aroldis Chapman had fourth-fastest pitch in Royals history Saturday. Here’s the top five
One of highlight from the Royals’ sluggish opening weekend of the 2023 season was relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman’s outing Saturday in the Twins’ 2-0 victory.
Chapman, a left-hander, threw 13 pitches and struck out the side. A dozen of those pitches were the 12 fastest in the game.
Chapman, 35, is in his 14th big-league season, and he looked like the reliever who has made seven All-Star Games.
“I’m happier that he’s on our side instead of watching it from the other side,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Sunday. “He threw a ton of strikes, throwing 100 plus miles an hour with his extension. ... That’s what he used to look like. And so that’s great.”
Chapman hit 102.5 mph when he struck out the Twins’ Kyle Farmer looking in the ninth inning.
That tied for the fourth-fastest pitch in Royals history, according to Baseball Savant. Data goes back to the 2008 season.
Three of the top five fastest pitches were thrown by Kelvin Herrera during his rookie season in 2012.
Here is the list.
103.5 mph by Herrera on April 17, 2012 (the Tigers’ Don Kelly fouled off the pitch)
102.9 mph by Herrera on April 14, 2012 (Cleveland’s Carlos Santana took the pitch for a ball)
102.6 mph by Yordano Ventura in his big-league debut on Sept. 17, 2013 (Cleveland’s Yan Gomes singled)
102.5 mph by Chapman on Saturday
102.5 by Herrera on April 14, 2012 (Santana struck out swinging)
Note: Josh Staumont threw a 102.2 mph and 102 mph pitch against the Reds’ Phillip Ervin
