Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation! When we consider former A's pitchers who couldn't reach their full potential due to health issues, Rich Harden immediately comes to mind. During his nine-year career, he had remarkable stuff when healthy, but pitched over 150 innings just once. His fastball usually sat in the mid-90s, and on occasion touched triple digits. By 2024 standards, his velocity might not seem extremely high.

Cautionary Tales and the Rise in Pitch Velocity

Pitchers like Rich Harden serve as a cautionary example for players and managers who have become overly focused on chasing higher pitch velocities over the years. However, these warnings seem to have gone unheeded. Since 2011, the rate of four-seam fastballs thrown at 95+ mph has more than doubled. In 2011, it was 17.2%, and by 2024, it reached 40.0%. This significant increase highlights the changing landscape of pitching.