MLB's Year of Fastball Has Proved Both Exciting and Dangerous

Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images The fastball has taken center stage during this 2024 MLB season; but whether its influence can be classified as beneficial depends entirely upon individual perception. For pitchers and fastball enthusiasts, its use has proven highly popular – as evidenced by increased pitches being delivered quickly against opposing pitchers in games across MLB. On the other side of the plate however, those vulnerable to batted balls who face danger each time a radar gun lights up may see less risk as 2024 fastball history unfolds before them. One thing’s for certain: 2024 is fastball history-making season! On Tuesday alone, Los Angeles Angels closer Ben Joyce achieved one of 2,783 fastballs of at least 100 mph that have been pitched throughout 2024; his strikeout of Tommy Edman on an fastball of 105.5 mph marked an all-time fastball strikeout record! There may have been more pitchers tracked during 2022-2023, but that still only represents 10 times as many pitches recorded than were counted at the dawn of pitch-tracking era in 2008. Early Tuesday, Atlanta’s Whit Merrifield was reminded how dangerous high heat can be when Jeff Criswell threw one of his 94.5 mph fastballs off Merrifield’s helmet at 94.5mph; its sound sent shockwaves through the crowd with announcers declaring, “Oh no. What has just happened!” “Merrifield was outraged. Teams have begun employing pitchers that don’t understand where the ball is headed,” the three-time All-Star told reporters. “These 100 miles an hour pitchers don’t understand where their pitches should land — all we want them for now is some fast pitch action that might get our teammates out.” Just set up in the middle and throw as hard as you can’. “Merrifield added: “That moment in particular felt like my life or death to me. “He makes an interesting case, which points towards Major League Baseball needing to address some kind of issue. HBPs Are On The Rise and More Dangerous Merrifield alluded to is no illusion: Hit-by-pitchs (HBP) occur more frequently and more dangerously today compared with years gone by since 1901 (only seven seasons recorded at least four HBP per game rate since 1901). Since 2018, MLB has experienced seven hit-by-pitch incidents within seven seasons, in each of 2018, 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 and 2024. MLB now owns seven consecutive hit-by-pitch infamy cases in its history – @BallySportsSOWhit Merrifield was taken out tonight’s game after being struck in the back of his head with one such pitch from Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSOWhitMerrifield was one). Fastballs don’t pose as great of a threat at their former rate anymore compared to what they used to. Fastballs made up 70.9 percent of all HBPs last year but that figure has dropped down to 597 this season, yet more frequent exposure doesn’t always translate to less risk exposure for batters. Fastballs that hit batters tended to average approximately 91 mph until recently when that figure skyrocketed to 93.3 mph over just two seasons. One could make the case that batters are giving pitchers license to pitch inside more frequently and that has something to do with why fastballs hit batters at higher velocities now than ever. C-Flap helmets became widespread during the late 2010s and many hitters now make the trip out to bat with full protection on from head to toe. At least in right-on-right matchups, around this same time pitchers began pitching inside more often with fastballs in right-on-right matches. As Merrifield noted however, this problem may not necessarily stem from intent but inexperience. “I find it absolutely deplorable that some of our pitchers do not understand where the ball’s going at an MLB level,” Merrifield lamented, according to David O’Brien of The Athletic. Considering he was struck out in just his seventh game for Colorado Rockies rookie pitching prospect Javy Guerra at 25-years-old rookie pitcher Javy Guerra who pitched seven pitches before getting hit himself, one can understand where Merrifield may be coming from. At least, what he suggested has some validity: Hit-by-pitches only account for 1.1% of plate appearances overall in 2024, though rookie pitchers (1.2%) exceed this mark and those under 30 tend to hit more batters than older players. No Turning Back Now YetUltimately, MLB cannot force pitchers to stop throwing fastballs; only players themselves have control of that situation. But even if it tried, its chances would likely fail due to age and injury. Fastball usage continues to decrease but not its effectiveness – fastballs had an overall run value of +116 in 2024! Over the previous several years, they had posted negative values while pitchers earned consistent benefits from breaking pitches and occasional offspeed pitches. It’s likely velocity plays an indirect role here. Average fastball velocity (93.3 mph) remains steady since 2023, yet standard deviation (i.e., variance from average velocity) among individual pitchers’ velocity readings has become the lowest seen in pitch tracking’s era – meaning everyone now throws hard. An inevitable outcome of MLB teams discovering velocity training techniques; yet fastballs now stand out more for more reasons than simply miles per hour alone. At an average fastball spin rate of 2,267 revolutions per minute, fastball spin rate reached its highest ever point during a full 162-game season since 2006. This occurred despite MLB’s three-year ban on grip-enhancing substances which almost precludes any argument that its increase may have been artificially created. Spin is something pitchers can learn too, which should come as no surprise; their advantage in pitcher-hitter matchups was already clear to see; now their pitch of choice serves them even more efficiently as they see it becoming their go-to pitch and becomes their arsenal of choice. If this remains true, one has to question if fastball usage might reverse its decline, something which might put off average hitters and increase fastball usage again. Such thoughts might alarm MLB under these conditions and may frighten away potential batters altogether. What Can MLB Do to Protect Hitters?Merrifield knows he’s not alone this season having experienced scares; Mookie Betts and Austin Riley both sustained broken hands from fastballs clocked at 98 and 97 miles an hour, respectively. Merrifield also noted Atlanta “almost lost” Michael Harris II when he was hit in the wrist with a fastball of 93 miles per hour shortly after Riley went onto the injured list. Incidents like this once was cause for frontier justice but those days have gone and will never come back. According to O’Brien, Merrifield said there’s no longer the fear that, “If I hit this guy in retaliation, our guy might get hit”. Pitchers no longer must hit and thus do not need to stand in the batter’s box anymore. “Merrifield holds an invaluable seat on MLB’s Competition Committee and stands ideally poised to influence change within her organization. O’Brien reported on Thursday that O’Donnell is “among many players calling for rules punishing pitchers who hit batters with fastballs that break hands or wrists or strike players in the head or neck – they may just get it!” “No doubt,” Merrifield answered when asked whether something will be in place prior to next season, adding: “I wouldn’t be surprised if something hadn’t.” Of course, no magic bullet can rapidly improve all pitchers’ control overnight; experience may be all it takes for young pitchers. No matter if it was deliberate or accidental, punishment must still follow for either case – including potential in-game repercussions that might apply. If a pitcher accidentally knocks out one or more hitters from a game with one wayward pitch, his day may also come to an end. As pitchers no longer intentionally hit batters nowadays, such changes would not stop HBPs altogether. Ideal, however, would be for all to understand that those lacking control would do well to work on it – particularly those without firm hold of major league roster spots and money. MLB should do something now as fastballs continue becoming more dangerous while batters no longer have many ways of protecting themselves; justice may provide that protection in lieu of additional protection – the least they could expect is justice from MLB!