What happened: ESPN's Jeff Passan reports a dramatic rise in pitchers reaching 100 mph velocities. In 2024, 245 pitchers have hit triple digits, up from 33 in 2010. This trend is fundamentally changing Major League Baseball.

Why it matters: Elevated velocities heighten arm injury risks, fueling debates on pitch clocks, mound adjustments, and development practices. It shifts scouting toward power arms and impacts betting props on max speeds. Average fastball velocity has climbed from 91.5 mph in 2008 to 94.2 mph in 2024, accelerating the evolution of pitching.

What to watch: Watch pitcher injury reports and MLB's potential rule tweaks for velocity management.