Jacob Misiorowski, a 24-year-old starting pitcher who attended Crowder College in Neosho, led the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on October 23, 2026. The win marked Milwaukee’s first World Series game appearance since 1982. Misiorowski, known by fans as “the Miz,” threw the fastest pitch ever by a starting pitcher in recorded history, hitting 105.5 mph earlier in the 2026 season. He concluded the 2026 season as the Major League leader in both ERA and strikeouts.
Misiorowski's 2026 season was marked by unprecedented dominance. He finished with a 1.80 ERA, breaking the Brewers’ franchise record, and recorded 252 strikeouts in 174⅔ innings. The right-hander started on Opening Day, striking out 11 batters, a Brewers Opening Day record. His historic 105.5 mph pitch was thrown on June 26, 2026, against the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong. In September 2026, he became the first pitcher on record to throw 1,000 pitches of 100 mph or faster in a single season. The Brewers achieved the best record in baseball, 103–59, before winning their first National League pennant by sweeping the Dodgers.
In his World Series Game 1 start at American Family Field, Misiorowski’s first pitch, a 103.5-mph fastball to Yandy Díaz, was the fastest pitch ever thrown by a starter in a World Series game. He pitched five innings, allowing one run on four hits, securing the win for Milwaukee. Of his 78 pitches, 37 were 100 mph or faster, with an average fastball velocity of about 101 mph. After the victory, Misiorowski described the win as "amazing" and expressed his gratitude for the city's support, as reported by UPI.
Misiorowski was born on April 3, 2002, in Blue Springs, Missouri, and grew up in nearby Grain Valley. After his senior high school season in 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19, he went undrafted in the shortened MLB draft. He then enrolled at Crowder College, a junior college located in Neosho, Missouri. His first season there was cut short by a torn meniscus after just two games. However, in 2022, he rebounded to achieve a 10–0 record with a 2.72 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 76 innings. Although he committed to LSU, he ultimately signed with the Brewers after being drafted 63rd overall in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. The Brewers paid him a $2.35 million signing bonus, more than double the $1.1 million slot value for that pick.
Misiorowski reached the Major Leagues in June 2025. In his debut, he threw five no-hit innings and earned the win, followed by six perfect innings in his second start. He was named an All-Star after only five big-league games, the fastest in history, a decision that drew public criticism from the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite some struggles after the All-Star break, finishing his rookie year with a 4.36 ERA, he won two playoff games in relief against the Cubs in October 2025. In July 2026, he was named an All-Star for the second time.
Standing 6-foot-7, Misiorowski releases the ball closer to home plate than any other pitcher, a factor CBS Sports identifies as making his fastball appear even faster to batters. He has shown a weakness in efficiency, with high pitch counts preventing him from completing five innings in his first two 2026 playoff starts. Concerns about workload and potential injury are also noted due to his extreme throwing velocity; he left a May 2026 start with a hamstring cramp while working on a no-hitter. Misiorowski is still in his pre-arbitration years, with his salary set by the team and close to the league minimum. His engagement to fiancée Elle was reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in January 2026. He is also a Pokémon card collector and has expressed interest in pitching for Poland in the World Baseball Classic due to his Polish descent. If he continues his record-breaking performance, he is expected to become one of the sport's most valuable players upon reaching arbitration and free agency.
