Milwaukee Brewers Rookie Jacob Misiorowski Makes MLB History
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski has burst onto the Major League Baseball scene with an extraordinary start to his career, captivating fans and analysts alike with his dominant pitching. The 23-year-old rookie has quickly demonstrated the potential that made him a highly-touted prospect, beginning his MLB journey with an impressive streak of 11 consecutive hitless innings across his first two starts.
Dazzling Debuts: Pitching Perfection and Power
Misiorowski’s remarkable run began in his big-league debut, where he threw five no-hit innings before being sidelined by cramps. He followed this up with another stunning performance in his second start against the Minnesota Twins. Misiorowski carried a perfect game bid deep into the sixth inning, showcasing pinpoint control and overpowering stuff early on.
While the perfect game and hitless streak eventually ended in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Twins – yielding a walk and a two-run homer to Matt Wallner – his initial dominance was undeniable. He was pulled from the game to a standing ovation from the opposing crowd, a testament to his impressive outing. His final line for that start included 6-plus innings pitched, allowing just one hit and two runs while striking out six.
Setting Historic Precedents
Misiorowski’s opening performances have etched his name into baseball’s record books. He is reportedly the first starting pitcher in the live-ball era (since 1920) to post 10 consecutive hitless innings to begin his MLB career. While a reliever holds the overall career-starting hitless innings record, Misiorowski’s feat as a starter stands alone in modern history.
Furthermore, an exceptional statistic highlights his dominance: he is the first player of the modern era (since 1900) to tally more wins (2) than hits allowed (1) through his initial two career starts. This unprecedented ratio underscores just how effective he has been at preventing opponents from putting the ball in play successfully.
Armed with Elite Velocity
A key component of Misiorowski’s early success is his elite velocity. In his second start, his fastball averaged a scorching 100.6 mph and topped out at an eye-popping 102.1 mph. However, it’s his slider that has truly turned heads. This secondary pitch reached an astonishing 96.7 mph, a speed rarely seen on a slider in professional baseball. This exceptional velocity differential between his fastball and slider, combined with late movement, makes both pitches incredibly difficult for hitters to square up.
Quantifying his fastball dominance, Misiorowski threw 29 pitches at 100 mph or faster in his second start alone. This total is among the highest by any starting pitcher this season, rivaling only Hunter Greene and matching the career total of former phenom Stephen Strasburg in that velocity category.
Looking Ahead
Standing at an imposing 6-foot-7, Misiorowski cuts an intimidating figure on the mound. He entered the season ranked as a high-level prospect, sitting at No. 66 overall according to MLB Pipeline. While evaluators have previously noted control as a potential area for improvement, his initial outings have far exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.
His emergence provides a significant boost to the Brewers as they navigate the season in contention for a playoff spot. Adding a pitcher with Misiorowski’s electric stuff and early track record could prove pivotal for Milwaukee’s postseason aspirations.
