Kodai Senga boosted his four-seam fastball 2.7 mph from 94.7 to 97.4 mph between preseason training and early regular schedule readings. Shota Imanaga matched that gain on his sinker, rising from 88.2 to 90.9 mph. These shifts among starting pitchers signal offseason adjustments with potential carryover effects on workload management and performance sustainability.
Top Velocity Gainers Across Pitch Types
Regular season measurements reveal pronounced increases for select starting pitchers on both four-seam fastballs and sinkers. The table below highlights the leaders, with differences calculated from comparable preseason averages. Such data, captured via high-speed radar, underscores variations in arm speed entering full competition.
| Four-Seam | 2025 | 2026 | Diff | Sinker | 2025 | 2026 | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodai Senga | 94.7 | 97.4 | 2.7 | Shota Imanaga | 88.2 | 90.9 | 2.7 |
| Ryan Feltner |
These top marks head a list of twenty notable movers, reflecting targeted training emphases on speed development.
Mechanisms Behind Velocity Shifts
Velocity changes stem from the kinetic chain in throwing mechanics, where power transfers from lower body through torso to arm release. Gains often trace to enhanced strength, refined timing, or grip modifications refined over winter months. Declines, conversely, may arise from incomplete recovery or early workload accumulation. Preseason monitoring flags these early, allowing adjustments before patterns solidify.
Implications for Health and Optimization
Rapid increases heighten stress on elbow and shoulder structures, where sustained high speeds correlate with tissue strain risks. Consistent tracking enables calibrated pitch counts and rest intervals to preserve gains. For these pitchers, holding 2.7 mph upticks could reshape rotation dynamics, provided health protocols adapt. Broader trends show such metrics guiding modern training protocols toward longevity.
