What happened: In a piece by Jayson Stark, shared by Ken Rosenthal, Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan praised young right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, saying he has "a gift." When Stark pressed Ryan on who the hardest thrower was, Ryan declined to wade into that debate.
Why it matters: An endorsement from one of the hardest throwers and most durable arms in baseball history carries weight for a pitcher still establishing himself. Misiorowski has become one of the more talked-about young arms in the league on the strength of his raw velocity.
By the numbers: Misiorowski's profile is built on top-end heat, recently touching a historic 105 mph to set an MLB velocity mark.
What to watch: Watch how Misiorowski's velocity holds up over the grind of the season and whether the hype around his arm translates into sustained results.