6 Pitchers Throwing Harder in 2026

From the Cubs' Shota Imanaga to the Mets' Kodai Senga, these hurlers have seen significant early-season velocity gains.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors like blue, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the increased velocity of these pitchers' fastballs.Velocity gains by several MLB pitchers could give their teams a boost as they aim to contend in 2026.Denver Today

Several pitchers across Major League Baseball have seen notable increases in their fastball velocity to start the 2026 season. This includes Shota Imanaga of the Cubs, Janson Junk of the Marlins, Kodai Senga of the Mets, Antonio Senzatela of the Rockies, Tyler Phillips of the Marlins, and Randy Vásquez of the Padres. The velocity gains have helped these pitchers improve their performance and effectiveness on the mound.

Why it matters

Increased velocity is a valuable asset for pitchers, as it can make their fastballs more difficult to hit and set up their off-speed pitches. These velocity jumps could signal a return to form for some pitchers who struggled with injuries or inconsistency in recent seasons. The improvements also highlight the continued emphasis on velocity across the league, as pitchers work to maximize their physical tools.

The details

Shota Imanaga of the Cubs has seen his four-seam fastball velocity increase by 1.4 mph to 92.2 mph after dealing with a hamstring injury last season. Janson Junk of the Marlins has boosted his four-seamer by 1.3 mph to 94.9 mph by adjusting his arm slot. Kodai Senga of the Mets has seen the biggest jump, with his four-seam fastball now averaging 96.7 mph, up 2.0 mph from 2025. Antonio Senzatela of the Rockies has moved to the bullpen and is now hitting 97.4 mph with his four-seamer, a 2.4 mph increase. Tyler Phillips of the Marlins has added 1.2 mph to his sinker, now averaging 96.6 mph. Randy Vásquez of the Padres has boosted both his four-seam (94.3 mph, +0.8 mph) and sinker (94.5 mph, +1.4 mph) velocities.

  • Imanaga missed close to two months last season with a left hamstring strain.
  • Junk spent the offseason honing a lower arm slot, practicing with high-intensity throws, long tosses and athletic throws.
  • Senga struggled with his fastball in 2025, with the pitch being his least valuable.
  • Senzatela's velocity increase comes after the Rockies moved him to the bullpen last September.
  • Phillips spent the offseason getting stronger and embracing velocity-based training at Cressey Sports Performance.

The players

Shota Imanaga

A left-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who missed time in 2025 due to a hamstring injury.

Janson Junk

A right-handed pitcher for the Miami Marlins who spent the offseason adjusting his arm slot to increase his velocity.

Kodai Senga

A right-handed pitcher for the New York Mets who struggled with his fastball velocity in 2025 but has seen a significant increase this season.

Antonio Senzatela

A right-handed pitcher for the Colorado Rockies who has moved to the bullpen, allowing him to throw harder.

Tyler Phillips

A right-handed reliever for the Miami Marlins who spent the offseason getting stronger to boost his velocity.

Randy Vásquez

A right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres who has seen improvements in both his four-seam fastball and sinker velocities.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For me, velo isn't everything, but obviously, having velocity is an advantage.”

— Shota Imanaga

“It's been eye-opening. Stuff+ went up, wOBA went down, stuff like that. I'll be able to execute my pitches, and if I don't, the velo is up, so I'll have some room to get away with it. That's where I figured that out. Thank God that FanGraphs article approached me about it.”

— Janson Junk

“We have our pitching plan papers, and I look at mine, I see how good my stuff actually is. It gives you more room for error. I throw the sinker, and I need to trust that thing in the zone. When it's 92, you gotta be kind of fine. Sometimes, I find myself falling into that mindset. 'Oh, I need to make this a perfect pitch.' If it's 97, 98, well, hitting is hard.”

— Tyler Phillips

What’s next

The Rockies will decide in the coming weeks whether to keep Senzatela in the bullpen or move him back into the starting rotation.

The takeaway

Increased velocity can be a game-changer for pitchers, helping them miss more bats and giving them more margin for error. These six hurlers have found ways to add zip to their fastballs, which could lead to breakout seasons and help their teams contend in 2026.