MILWAUKEE – Do you think Jacob Misiorowski was fired up for his first career start against the Yankees?
The 24-year-old Brewers right-hander and human flamethrower threw the four fastest fastballs for a starting pitcher since pitch tracking began in 2008 during a nearly perfect first inning against Aaron Judge & Co. at American Family Field on Friday night, topping out at 103.6 mph on the pitch that induced Judge’s lineout to end the inning.
It was nearly immaculate – the feat of going three up, three down with three strikeouts on the minimum nine pitches.
Misiorowski struck out Yankees leadoff man Trent Grisham and No. 2 hitter Ben Rice on three pitches apiece, including the two fastest strike threes from a starting pitcher – 103.3 mph to Rice after 102.8 to Grisham. Then Misiorowski started 0-and-2 against Judge, the reigning American League MVP Award winner.
At that point, all eight of Misiorowski’s pitches had been four-seam fastballs. Of course he threw another at 103.1 mph, narrowly missing the low outside corner for ball one.
Undeterred, Misiorowski came back with yet another fastball, his fastest of the inning. Judge lined it directly to Sal Frelick in right field.
Misiorowski’s velocity typically starts at its peak and then comes down inning by inning, but he was throwing even more gas in a scoreless second inning. He threw two more pitches at 103.6 mph to Yankees newcomer Spencer Jones, New York’s No. 6 prospect making his Major League debut.
Jones struck out on a foul tip to end a second scoreless inning.