local
The heat is on: The average MLB fastball velocity is up for the 6th straight year to 94.7 mph
By RONALD BLUM, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· July 13, 2026
· 1 min read
NEW YORK (AP) — Chad Tracy notices how much baseball has changed in the 13 years since he took his last big league at-bat. “You watch a Triple-A game, most everybody that’s coming out of the bullpen left-handed or right-handed is throwing 95-plus,” the Boston Red Sox manager said. “Back in the da...
Key takeaway “You watch a Triple-A game, most everybody that’s coming out of the bullpen left-handed or right-handed is throwing 95-plus,” the Boston Red Sox manager said.
Why this matters in The McAllen
The rising velocity of MLB fastballs has implications for local baseball fans in the Rio Grande Valley, where the sport is deeply ingrained in the community. As the average fastball velocity reaches 94.7 mph, valley residents who follow the game can expect to see more exciting, high-energy matchups when they attend minor league games or watch major league teams on TV. The increased emphasis on power pitching may also influence the way local coaches and trainers approach player development, potentially leading to more valley athletes being recruited to play at the collegiate or professional level. With the region's strong baseball tradition, it will be interesting to see how the trend toward faster fastballs plays out in local youth leagues and high school programs, and whether it leads to more valley players being drafted into the major leagues.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 13, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? NEW YORK (AP) — Chad Tracy notices how much baseball has changed in the 13 years since he took his last big league at-bat. “You watch a Triple-A game, most everybody that’s coming out of the bullpen left-handed or right-handed is throwing 95-plus,” the Boston Red Sox manager said. “Back in the da...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by RONALD BLUM, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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