Reliever Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest pitch in Royals history in Tuesday’s victory
History was made Tuesday night during the Royals’ 5-4 win over the Padres in San Diego, and it happened in the blink of an eye.
With the final pitch of the seventh inning, Royals relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman struck out Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth with a 103.8 mph fastball.
That pitch tied for the fastest thrown in Major League Baseball this season (with Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks). It was the fastest pitch by a Royals pitcher in the Statcast Era, which began in 2015.
Chapman, who signed with the Royals as a free agent in the offseason, has already thrown four pitches faster than 103 mph this season.
Three of the five fastest pitches in Royals history have come on this road trip as Chapman, 35, was throwing gas Saturday to Brewers hitters in Milwaukee.
Here are the top 10 fastest pitches in Royals history (via Baseball Savant).
- 103.8 mph by Chapman on Tuesday
- 103.5 mph by Kelvin Herrera on April 17, 2012 (Tigers’ Don Kelly fouled off pitch)
- 103.5 mph by Chapman on Saturday (Brewers’ Rowdy Tellez fouled off pitch)
- 103.5 mph by Chapman on April 4, 2023 (Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette fouled off pitch)
- 103.4 mph by Chapman on Saturday (Brewers’ Willy Adames struck out)
- 102.9 mph by Herrera on April 14, 2012 (Cleveland’s Carlos Santana took pitch for a ball)
- 102.9 mph by Chapman on April 22, 2023 (Angels’ Anthony Rendon took pitch for a ball)
- 102.9 mph by Chapman on April 22, 2023 (Angels’ Mike Trout struck out)
- 102.8 mph by Chapman on Saturday (Tellez took a ball)
- 102.7 mph by Chapman (twice on April 22 and April 24)
