Manny Machado had a close-up view of the intense velocity that Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Aroldis Chapman showcased on Wednesday night at PNC Park.
In the top of the eighth inning, with the score tied 6–6, Machado stepped up to bat with two outs and two runners on base. A single swing could have shifted the game in favor of the San Diego Padres. However, it was the 36-year-old reliever who ultimately triumphed over Machado.
Chapman took command of the at-bat, going ahead in the count 0–2 before Machado managed to foul off two pitches. He then took a ball that registered at 105.1 mph. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Chapman dug deep and unleashed a 104.7-mph fastball, precisely located on the inside corner for strike three.
Machado could only laugh as he stood in the batter’s box, glancing toward the mound. Chapman returned the smile, knowing he had bested the six-time All-Star.
According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, that 104.7-mph fastball is the fastest strikeout pitch recorded since pitch tracking began in 2008. The 105.1-mph fastball he threw earlier in the at-bat marks the fastest pitch thrown by any MLB pitcher in 2024, and it is the first time Chapman has exceeded 105 mph on the radar gun since 2016.
This season has had its ups and downs for Chapman, who entered Wednesday’s game with a 3.67 ERA and 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings across 47 appearances. He demonstrated once again on Wednesday night that, at age 36, Chapman can still leave hitters speechless.
