SURPRISE, Ariz. – Cody Bradford, a left-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers, learned early in his career that he probably wouldn’t top the radar gun speeds that make scouts take notice. Despite this, he has established himself in Major League Baseball even as others in the sport continue to push their velocities to higher levels.
“I was never blessed with a 100 mph fastball,” Bradford stated. “However, I have been given several other tools.” Bradford is among a select group of pitchers who have managed to have successful careers without reaching extraordinary speeds on their fastballs. Over the last season, he achieved a 6-3 record with a 3.54 ERA, with his fastball averaging 89.8 mph, placing him in the fourth percentile of MLB pitchers, according to Statcast.
“My pitching coach told me early on, ‘Cody, you’re not going to be a 98 mph pitcher. You’re going to be more in the upper-80s to low-90s range, so you need to focus on command,’” Bradford mentioned, who is beginning this season on the injured list due to elbow soreness. “In high school, I aimed at hitting my spots, and in college, I embraced the need to be precise if I wanted a lasting career in the game.”
While primarily a starter, Bradford isn’t alone in this approach. Brent Suter, a left-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, also exemplifies this, having posted a 3.15 ERA across 47 games last season while his fastball clocked in at an average of 86.4 mph, according to Statcast.
“I pitch with everything I have,” Suter explained, “even if the radar doesn’t reflect it.”
Despite the emphasis on strikeouts across the league, some managers continue to value craftiness. Reds manager Terry Francona highlighted that many believe if you’re not striking out batters, you’re not pitching effectively. He advocates looking at pitchers like Greg Maddux, who excelled by getting outs early in the count and securing weak contact.
“Those are the pitchers who last into the seventh and eighth inning,” Francona said. “While the ones who aim to overpower every pitch often find themselves leaving games early.”
Chris Young, President of Baseball Operations for the Rangers and a former MLB pitcher who rarely threw over 90 mph, agrees. “There are numerous successful pitchers without the fastest velocities,” Young noted. “While a faster pitch offers an advantage, allowing less reaction time for hitters, it’s not the be-all and end-all.”
As the trend of higher velocities continues, Bradford stands out. Statcast data noted 22 pitchers last season averaged a four-seam fastball of at least 98 mph, compared to only seven in 2018. The tally of pitchers averaging at least 96 mph reached 125, nearly double the number recorded in 2018.
“Without the speed, reaching the majors can take longer,” remarked Tyler Rogers of the San Francisco Giants, whose delayed debut came at age 28.
Sustaining a career can equally be challenging without velocity. Dane Dunning of the Rangers experienced both highs and lows, moving to the minors despite past achievements. Meanwhile, new Rangers pitchers like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker introduce dynamics with their ability to throw above 100 mph. Nevertheless, many pitchers continue to thrive without overwhelming speed.
Rogers, for example, relies on sinkers and sliders, with an average fastball velocity of 82.3 mph, yet he finds himself in his seventh MLB season, even having assumed the closer role. Bradford’s success is attributed to mastering his available tools.
“I’ve had to be versatile with my pitches and command them well,” he shared. “It becomes strategic, like a chess match with hitters.”
Pitchers lacking overpowering speeds often use excellent extension—a measurement of release point proximity to home plate—to create an illusion of faster pitches. Bradford and others use such techniques, making them effective despite lower velocities.
Beyond breaking velocity barriers, pitchers like Suter and Falter have developed additional tactics. They utilize changes in speed to unsettle hitters, especially after facing fireballing teammates. This diversity in approach reminds that while velocity is crucial, it isn’t the definitive factor in effective pitching.
“Velocity is important,” Young emphasized, “but it’s just one aspect of success.”