Throughout the team’s illustrious history, the Boston Red Sox fans have always been treated to some incredible pitchers with lethal fastballs. Even if you go all the way back to the early 20th century and the deadball era, we can pick out names like Smokey Joe Wood, who had an estimated 100mph fastball. While it was difficult to measure with any degree of accuracy back then, we do know that Wood’s fastball was considered untouchable.
In the present, the Red Sox organization feels like it is in a state of flux, a team that’s quite hard to define at the moment. They have made some interesting moves in the offseason, which include the signing of Aroldis Chapman, the man who dominates the list of fastest baseball pitches of all time. It remains to be seen whether the arrival of Chapman can help get the Sox back where their fans want them to be, but it certainly will be exciting for the Fenway faithful to see the veteran reliever demonstrate his power in a Boston uniform.
Daniel Bard was incredible when in the right mindset
The Red Sox have struggled with pitching staff of late, but the team has had some incredible flamethrowers in its recent history. Not that speed is the only thing that counts, of course. Moreover, many of those able to hurl incredible fastballs, Chapman included, can have issues with control. Daniel Bard, who was with the Sox from 2009-2013, as well as a short stint in 2020, is a good example of that. In his prime, Bard could reach pitches of 102mph. His decline had already begun by the time the Red Sox went to the World Series in 2013, with Bard ignominiously receiving his ring (he pitched one inning that season) in the mail.
Matt Barnes came to the fore after Bard left. He had a lot in his armory, including the ability to throw curveballs, but his high-90s four-seam fastball could be devastating when he was on point. Barnes certainly went beyond 100mph in his eight seasons as a Red Sox reliever. He was an integral piece in the Sox’s 2018 World Series win. Joining Bard in the relief pitching staff for the backend of his tenure was closer Craig Kimbrel, who could throw 99-101mph. Kimbrel, who is a nine-time All-Star, had just two years with the Sox, but they were memorable and hugely successful for both player and team.
The Sox have missed Nathan Eovaldi’s arm
It’s arguable that Kimbrel’s departure post-2018 coincided with a decline in Red Sox pitching that the organization has yet to address. The team has had bad luck, too, with injuries, meaning that players like Chris Sale never hit the heights that were expected. There was some hope that Nathan Eovaldi would become the ace the Red Sox fans craved. Even as a starter, Eovaldi could regularly hit 100 mph, topping out at 101mph. Considered a hero of that World Series run in 2018, the Sox let Eovaldi go in 2022. He would win a World Series with the Rangers the next year.
On to today, and Chapman will join a pitching staff that includes Garrett Whitlock, a relief pitcher who looks like he can touch 100 mph and regularly hits 98mph. He looked like he was going to have a breakout season in 2024 before injury derailed his campaign back in May. Of course, it’s not all about speed, but if the Sox can get these weapons right coming out of the bullpen, it could be a difference-maker for a team looking to get back on track going into the 2025 MLB season.
