Jacob Misiorowski Leads Brewers to Title With 100-Mph Pitching

Jacob Misiorowski reached 100 mph on 51 of his 86 pitches during the Milwaukee Brewers' World Series clinching game. The 24-year-old right-hander recorded two hits allowed over five and two-thirds scoreless innings before a leg cramp ended his outing. Milwaukee defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to claim their first championship.

The performance capped a record-setting year for the pitcher. Misiorowski made the 2025 All-Star team one month after his major league debut. He finished that shortened campaign with a 4.36 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 66 innings. In the 2026 season, he posted a 16-5 record and led the major leagues in three categories. His 1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts, and opponents' average of .157 made him the fourth pitcher since 1950 to achieve that triple crown of pitching metrics.

His velocity shattered previous records. Misiorowski threw 1,115 pitches at 100 mph or higher this season, surpassing the previous high of 673 set by Jordan Hicks of St. Louis in 2018. His fastest pitch of the year clocked in at 105.5 mph, delivered to Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on June 27.

The physical toll became apparent in the postseason. Misiorowski threw 193 and two-thirds total innings across the regular season and playoffs, an increase from his 141 and one-third innings last year. He exited the World Series game after Brad Epstein, the head athletic trainer, signaled the mound due to a right calf cramp. This injury mirrored the ailment that forced him out of two starts in May.

Tampa Bay groundskeepers made multiple trips to repair a divot in the mound created by Misiorowski's long left-foot stride. Despite the physical demands, he maintained composure. He tied his career low for strikeouts with two, relying on command rather than pure strikeout ability to neutralize the Rays' lineup.

William Contreras, the catcher and World Series MVP, noted that the pitcher deserved the recognition coming his way. Contreras stated that Misiorowski deserved the Cy Young Award and the success he had throughout the year. Misiorowski credited his fiancée for helping him manage his symptoms before the game, including nausea that left him feeling unwell upon waking.

The Brewers now prepare for the offseason, with the Cy Young voting scheduled for next month. Misiorowski's numbers place him at the top of the National League candidates for the individual honor.