Hunter Harvey touches 96 MPH in Spring appearance

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Hunter Harvey with a 96 mph fastball to Margot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/orioles?src=hash">#orioles</a></p>— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) <a href="

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Granted, it's one inning of work in an exhibition game but sounds like Hunter Harvey made a nice impression today. Also, very impressive and encouraging that he's already touching 96 mph this early in the year.

In my mind, he's a stud.

Shiny New Toy.

Is there a velocity curve of any sort for pitchers? I'm sure it depends on body type/delivery, so maybe it's not really a simple question. Just wondering if there is a normal progression... Like, a guy that hits 96 at age 20 can look to get to 98 by 24. Or something like that.

Is there a velocity curve of any sort for pitchers? I'm sure it depends on body type/delivery, so maybe it's not really a simple question. Just wondering if there is a normal progression... Like, a guy that hits 96 at age 20 can look to get to 98 by 24. Or something like that.

If a guy is throwing 96 at 20 he will be throwing 94 by 24.

Most pitchers start losing velocity pretty quickly.

If a guy is throwing 96 at 20 he will be throwing 94 by 24.

Most pitchers start losing velocity pretty quickly.

So it generally is all decline by the time a guy hits the majors?

So it generally is all decline by the time a guy hits the majors?

As a general rule of thumb, yes.

As a general rule of thumb, yes.

Usually it is to gain a bit of command as well. It isn't always degradation. Some starters can save it for their with an eighth inning, up in the zone, strike out.

So it generally is all decline by the time a guy hits the majors?

No, not at all. Improvement or decline of velocity depends on a lot of things including body type, arm speed, role, and coaching adjustments. Velocity usually peaks in the 21-24 year old range though some young pitchers appear to "lose" velocity because they've learned to stop throwing to the radar gun and start throwing to spots. Hunter could very well gain velocity as the lower half of his body fills out. As a tall, lanky kid, he did not have a mature body when he was drafted so the Orioles felt there was more velocity in there.

If a pitcher "loses" velocity between 20 and 24 it's most likely because he's pitching rather than throwing instead of some physical situation. The one thing to remember with high school pitchers with mature bodies who threw in the mid to upper 90s as an amateur is that there are no performance enhancement drug testing in high school. There has been a lot of talk of young kids taking huge jumps in velocity, getting the big contracts, then suddenly losing velocity in the pros once they can be tested. Coincidence, perhaps, but something to think about when a kid shows up in pro ball and has lost 3-4 MPH off his high school fastball.

Clearly this is not an issue with Harvey since he's added velocity since going pro.

No, not at all. Improvement or decline of velocity depends on a lot of things including body type, arm speed, role, and coaching adjustments. Velocity usually peaks in the 21-24 year old range though some young pitchers appear to "lose" velocity because they've learned to stop throwing to the radar gun and start throwing to spots. Hunter could very well gain velocity as the lower half of his body fills out. As a tall, lanky kid, he did not have a mature body when he was drafted so the Orioles felt there was more velocity in there.

If a pitcher "loses" velocity between 20 and 24 it's most likely because he's pitching rather than throwing instead of some physical situation. The one thing to remember with high school pitchers with mature bodies who threw in the mid to upper 90s as an amateur is that there are no performance enhancement drug testing in high school. There has been a lot of talk of young kids taking huge jumps in velocity, getting the big contracts, then suddenly losing velocity in the pros once they can be tested. Coincidence, perhaps, but something to think about when a kid shows up in pro ball and has lost 3-4 MPH off his high school fastball.

Clearly this is not an issue with Harvey since he's added velocity since going pro.

Could an exaggerated or hot HS gun be just as possible?

Could an exaggerated or hot HS gun be just as possible?

I have to think scouts bring their own. Plus they are generally very good at judging velocity without a gun.

Would you trust a HS gun?

I have to think scouts bring their own. Plus they are generally very good at judging velocity without a gun.

Would you trust a HS gun?

As a general question, yes.

There will always be program heights for basketball and HS recruit 40 times for football, though.

I am more concerned with how much movement is on his ball?

100 MPH with no movement, gets hammered out of the ball onto Eutaw Street at 200 MPH.

We had a lefty reliever here, many years ago, nice guy, great hardfast ball, but no movement, and hitters had no problem picking it up.

I am more concerned with how much movement is on his ball?

100 MPH with no movement, gets hammered out of the ball onto Eutaw Street at 200 MPH.

We had a lefty reliever here, many years ago, nice guy, great hardfast ball, but no movement, and hitters had no problem picking it up.

Good old Brad Pennington...

Could an exaggerated or hot HS gun be just as possible?

All scouts bring their own gun.