MILWAUKEE -- Jacob Misiorowski unleashed a four-seamer to Twins right fielder Alan Roden on Sunday afternoon, generating nothing but a meek half-swing to notch his fifth strikeout of the day.
The 101.7 mph velocity was ho-hum (well, for him at least), but the strikeout itself marked yet another milestone for the Brewers’ flamethrower in a season loaded with them. Naturally, the list isn’t long when noting the company he joins with this latest accomplishment.
With the punchout of Roden, Misiorowski officially reached his 200th strikeout of the season in only 129 1/3 innings, decimating the Brewers franchise record. The previous mark was set by Corbin Burnes, who needed 145 2/3 innings to reach 200 K’s in 2021. He became just the ninth Milwaukee pitcher to reach that mark.
But Misiorowski -- who finished the day with nine K’s over six innings in the Brewers’ 4-3 walk-off win in 10 innings at American Family Field -- didn’t just set a new franchise mark. Per Elias Sports Bureau, only one pitcher in MLB history has ever reached 200 strikeouts faster than Misiorowski did on Sunday -- Spencer Strider of the Braves, who needed just 123 1/3 frames to hit that total in 2023.
“He's a fascinating young man,” manager Pat Murphy said. “To have him handle all this the way he's handling it solidifies in my mind who this kid is.”
Misiorowski didn’t waste much time letting Minnesota hitters know what kind of heat they’d be dealing with on Sunday. The righty got Trevor Larnach swinging on a 103.1 mph heater to kick off his start. It was one of 21 straight fastballs Misiorowski unleashed on the Twins to begin the game, the “slowest” of which was clocked at 100.6 mph.
The relentless heat helped him notch four K’s in the first two frames and set himself up to hit his milestone. But with 200 strikeouts in his sights, Misiorowski needed to work quickly in order to maintain sole possession of second place in MLB history books. Had he reached his K on the final out of the frame instead of the first, Misiorowski would’ve tied Strider for second quickest to 200 K’s, as Atlanta’s righty also did so in 2022 in 130 innings.
But there was no drama to be had, as Misiorowski blew away Roden on five pitches to secure No. 200. The moment was commemorated on the American Family Field scoreboard, prompting a huge ovation from the Brewers faithful.
Significant as the achievement was to everyone on hand, Misiorowski had already shifted his focus to the next hitter.
“It's cool, definitely an honor,” Misorowski said. “It's just a product of the success I've had this season. I think it's just something that, maybe later in my career, maybe when I’m done playing, that's when I realize what I did. But not right now.”
The record itself remains eye-popping, even as Misorowski shrugged it off. But the fact a start of his featured more history has just become par for the course this season.
His outing vs. the Twins marked the eighth time this season that Misiorowski has thrown at least 50 100+ mph pitches in a game, per Statcast. His electric campaign has also included him setting a pitch-tracking era record by throwing 66 pitches registered at least 100 mph. He logged the most strikeouts (15) ever recorded in a complete-game shutout of fewer than 100 pitches. The velocity he continues to unleash in every start has even caught the eye of Hall of Fame fireballer Nolan Ryan.
And on Sunday, Misiorowski beat a Brewers franchise mark by a nearly 20-inning gap. He reached 200 punchouts faster than all but one pitcher in the history of the Majors, and the player who topped him still only did so by a mere six innings.
So, with two full months remaining, it only makes you wonder what else he has in store for the rest of his season.
“He's got a long way to go as a pitcher,” Murphy said, “but there are flashes of such brilliance that you're just shaking your head like, ‘Wow.’ He handles it very well. Really proud of the kid.”