Jacob Misiorowski Emerges as MLB's Most Dominant Starter with Unprecedented Velocity and Results

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski has transcended being merely the hardest-throwing starting pitcher in baseball to become its most dominant force. The 24-year-old is hitting unprecedented velocities while putting up historically elite statistical results in his first full major league season.

Misiorowski has allowed just one run over his last eight starts, producing a 0.17 ERA since May 1 — the best eight-start stretch for any pitcher since earned runs became official in 1913. His overall 2026 record stands at 8-2 with a 1.34 ERA and 131 strikeouts, both leading the majors. Against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, he became the third pitcher since 1900 to throw a shutout while striking out 15 and allowing no more than one baserunner. Misiorowski has already thrown 460 pitches at least 100 mph this season, surpassing the record for any starter set by Cincinnati's Hunter Greene with 337 such pitches in 2022. His fastest pitch reached 104.5 mph, the fastest velocity by any starter in MLB's pitch-tracking era that began in 2008.

Beyond raw power, Misiorowski's complete skill set mirrors the pitchers he admired growing up—Adam Wainwright, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, and Chris Sale. Opponents are batting just .140 against him this season, a historic mark that rivals the best defensive seasons in over a century. Boston's Pedro Martinez allowed opponents a .167 batting average in 2000, while Cleveland's Luis Tiant surrendered .168 in 1968. Misiorowski says he can't pinpoint what sparked his surge, only that "it finally clicked" and everything "started settling in and feeling good." Brewers manager Pat Murphy compared him to Forrest Gump, praising his lack of self-imposed limits and his ability to perform without letting outside forces influence him.

Misiorowski was selected to the All-Star Game last season after only five starts. He struggled late last year but produced a 1.50 postseason ERA during Milwaukee's run to the NL Championship Series. Now, he is considered a favorite for the Cy Young Award. His appreciation for baseball extends beyond statistics—he maintains a baseball card collection numbering in the thousands, though he likely owns even more Pokemon cards.