Blue Jays struggle with low fastball velocity in 2025

The Toronto Blue Jays concluded their 2025 spring training on a positive note, with players generally healthy and hitting well. Catcher Alejandro Kirk also signed a contract extension, ensuring he stays with the team for the foreseeable future. However, a key concern emerged during the spring: the Blue Jays lack high-velocity pitchers. During spring training, the Blue Jays threw only 20 pitches at 97 mph or faster. This is significantly lower compared to last season when the average MLB fastball was 94.2 mph. In fact, 65 other pitchers in the league surpassed this mark. Competing American League teams projected to win at least 81 games accounted for at least three times as many 97 mph-plus pitches as the Blue Jays. This performance gap isn't surprising, given the Blue Jays' current roster. They have more veteran pitchers, who are often less able to throw at high speeds, instead of young, high-velocity arms. The team also let go of several hard-throwing pitchers from last season, such as Nate Pearson and Yusei Kikuchi, while bringing in pitchers like Max Scherzer, who throws slower. While some may argue that velocity isn't everything and that pitchers can still succeed without speed, it's important to consider that many hitters struggle against high-velocity pitches. Some of the league’s best batters, like Freddie Freeman and Pete Alonso, have specific difficulties with pitches over 97 mph. Having harder throwers can be beneficial for matched pitching strategies against certain hitters. The Blue Jays will need to address this velocity issue if they want to compete effectively this season.