PHOENIX — You want to see a 24-year-old kid throw the fastest pitch in baseball history at the All-Star Game, pumping in 105-mph heaters, maybe even hitting 106 mph?
You want to see a gangly 6-foot-7 kid embarrass the greatest hitters in the world, perhaps striking out the side with an immaculate inning?
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You want to see the greatest show on earth with a performance that could be remembered for ages?
Well, you’ve got one little assignment, and Milwaukee Brewers sensation Jacob Misiorowski could sure use your helping hand.
Pray for rain.
Just for one measly day, how about Tuesday, in St. Louis?
The Brewers are scheduled to play a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals that day, with the first game at 1:15 p.m., and the next at 6:45 p.m.
Misiorowski is scheduled to pitch the first game when the weather is scheduled to be just fine, but the last time Misiorowski checked, there could be some thundershowers in the forecast at night.
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“I need it to rain all day,” he tells USA TODAY Sports. “Obviously, with weather in the Midwest, you never know.”
And if it doesn’t rain that day, well, there’s always Sunday, July 12, in Pittsburgh, the final day before the All-Star break, with the early weather forecast showing a 40% chance of rain.
“That would work, too,” Misiorowski says, breaking into an expansive grin.
But if there are no rainouts, and Misiorowski makes his scheduled start Tuesday in St. Louis and Sunday in Pittsburgh, you won’t be seeing him pitching in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
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He’ll be merely a spectator, just like me and you, only with a better seat.
Starting pitchers who pitch on the final day of the regular season before the All-Star Game are ineligible to pitch in the Midsummer Classic.
“I would love to pitch in the game,” Misiorowski says, “especially if I somehow got the start. But, you know, do I think that’s the best for the team? No. But selfishly, sure, I want to throw.”
Misiorowski looked away, and softly said, “Oh well.”
Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski celebrates after retiring the side in the seventh inning against the Padres at American Family Field in Milwaukee on May 13, 2026.
The TV folks can scream to the heavens, MLB officials can be irritated, and baseball fans can throw a temper-tantrum, but Misiorowski is too young, too polite, too shy, and too much of a team player to ever complain.
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You can hate it, but even with the Brewers having a 6-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, just one more start by Misiorowski could be the difference between winning the division and getting a first-round bye or being subjected to a wild-card round – or even sitting home in October.
“We want to do what’s best for the kid first, then what’s best for baseball, and what’s best for the Milwaukee Brewers,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I want to do what’s right by the kid, first and foremost. That’s our job. He’s always represented our organization well.”
No MLB official or TV executive has reached out to the Brewers to persuade them into making Misiorowski available for the game, but, of course, there’s plenty of time for those phone calls to be made and favors to be asked.
“I’d love for him to pitch in the game, but right now we’re just making sure he’s ready for his next start,” Murphy said. “We’ll take it one day at a time after that, and see what’s best for him.
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“Truly, there’s no way to rush this thing. I’d love for him to pitch in the game. But, sorry, I’m not going to think about it right now.”
It might be a different dilemma if Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was planning to start Misiorowski in the All-Star Game, but the current plan is for Philadelphia Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez (10-3, 2.00 ERA) to have the honor in front of his hometown fans.
“I think he deserves it,” Misiorowski said, “especially with the game being in Philadelphia. It’d be cool for him to start in front of his home fans.”
No offense to Sanchez, who produced the longest consecutive scoreless streak by a left-hander in history this year at 50 ⅔ innings, but “The Miz” is the greatest show on earth.
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Misiorowski is 9-4 with a MLB-best 1.47 ERA, leading MLB with 156 strikeouts in 104 innings – a spectacular 13.5-strikeouts-per-nine inning rate – while yielding 4.7 hits per nine innings. He has given up just five earned runs while striking out 105 batters in his past 11 games, a feat no pitcher has accomplished in baseball history.
“Honestly, its mind-bending how powerful his fastball is,” says Arizona Diamondbacks veteran starter Zac Gallen. “It’s like each day he throws he’s setting a new velocity record, and throwing strikes. I think everyone in the game tries to watch when he takes the mound. His starts have become must-see television.”
Misiorowski, who hit 105.5 mph in his last start when he actually slipped on the mound, is the only pitcher to throw 103 mph this year. And he’s done it 63 times. Why, of the 270 fastest pitches thrown in baseball this year, The Miz is the author of all of them.
His performances have been breath-taking, and if he takes the mound he would have the potential of resurrecting memories of Pedro Martinez when he struck out a record four consecutive batters, and five of six, in the 1999 All-Star Game and walked off with the MVP award.
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Now, unless rain pours from the skies, or there’s a change of heart, he’ll just be taking in the sights.
Only this time, he’ll be chilling with his fellow All-Stars, knowing he belongs in his place among the game’s greatest stars.
No one’s going to be bashing him like a year ago after several players, most notably Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and outfielder Nick Castellanos, called it a “joke” that Misiorowski was chosen after making only five starts. The Phillies were livid that Sanchez was not pitching in the game, but the truth is that he rejected the invitation – along with several other veterans. So, when MLB finally extended an invitation to Misiorowski, he gladly accepted.
Misiorowski got his dose of sweet revenge when he faced the Phillies last month and pitched one of the greatest regular-season games in history: a one-hit shutout, striking out a career-high 15 batters, and throwing 58 of his 95 pitches at 100 mph or faster.
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“I think the Phillies were more mad at MLB than me last year,” Misiorowski said. “But now, at least I can say, ‘See, there wasn’t a mistake.'”
While everyone remembers the trash-talking toward Misiorowski’s selection, he vividly recalls who walked into the clubhouse before the All-Star Game, stopped in front of his locker, extended his right hand, and warmly congratulated him for making the All-Star Game.
Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies’ lone All-Star representative.
“That was awesome,” Misiorowski says. “I mean, that was a guy that I’ve looked up to, you know, my whole life. I’ve watched him since he was with the Cubs, so it’s cool to have a guy like that come up and say congrats, and acknowledge all your success.”
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Now, Misiorowski, the quiet kid from Grain Valley, Missouri who grew up a diehard Kansas City Royals fan, idolizing the likes of Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas from their 2015 World Series championship team and religiously watching St. Louis Cardinals great Adam Wainwright, can be the one to go around and congratulate the 26 first-time All-Stars.
He can even relate his first big-league experience, facing the Cardinals in his major-league debut and nearly passing out at the sight of Nolan Arenado, the 10-time Gold Glove winner and eight-time All-Star, walking to the plate.
“I remember getting two quick outs,” Misiorowski says, “but when he came into the box, I was like, ‘Holy s—.’ I really made it.”
Certainly, he’ll be much more comfortable in his All-Star surroundings this time around. And who knows, he might work up the courage to speak to a few legends.
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“Looking back on it now, I wish I had talked to (Clayton) Kershaw a little bit more,” Misiorowski said. “It was his last All-Star Game. I wish I had picked his brain a little bit more. You know, nothing too crazy.”
Well, considering Misiorowski is lighting up the radar gun at a historic rate, and has supplanted Paul Skenes in the National League as the pitcher everyone wants to see – receiving the most votes by his peers than any NL pitcher – he could be the one drawing an audience.
Everyone wants to know how he’s able to throw pitches with that much velocity, throwing them for strikes, and still stay healthy. He eclipsed the 100-inning mark in his last start and says he still feels fresh at 104 innings, believing there’s no reason he can’t blow past his career-high of 129 ⅓ innings last season and still be strong.
“I think he’s in unchartered territory for sure,” Gallen says, “for a starter to throw that hard and be the ‘guinea pig’ as a starter that throws that hard how long in his career. I hope he’s healthy for 15 years and and we’re talking about how he can throw 102 mph every night and be fine.”
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Misiorowki has heard the concerns ever since he was throwing 99 mph at Crowder Junior College in Neosho, Missouri. Every time he starts, lighting up the radar gun with his historic readings, he’s asked how long he can possibly sustain the velocity without damaging an elbow ligament?
Well, if The Miz isn’t worried, so why should you?
“I get it,” Misiorowski says. “I get people’s concerns, like obviously you look across and you see (Tarik) Skubal, another hard thrower coming back from surgery. So, I see the concerns. But at the same time, that’s just how I throw. I’ve taught myself how to throw hard, how to recover. I think it’s kind of beating a dead (horse). It gets to a point where I think I have it pretty much under control of what I need to do, week in and week out, to get my body ready for the next start.
“I really don’t worry about it.”
It’s no different than the Cy Young race. He knows people already are talking about it. He was even caught in a social media hotbed of controversy that accused Milwaukee’s official scorer of giving an error to first baseman Jake Bauers instead of an infield hit to Cincinnati Reds left fielder JJ Bleday. It led to four unearned runs instead of five earned runs, keeping his ERA at 1.47 instead of 1.82.
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It’s not as if Misiorowski had anything to do with the scoring decision, but conspiracy theories abound.
“The Cy Young would obviously be really cool,” he said, “but that’s not something I think about. We still have got 70-something games to play. Now, if we come down the wire and we’re two starts away from it, maybe then I’ll start thinking about it. But right now, I’m thinking about St. Louis and then possibly Pittsburgh.
“That’s my focus.”
Well, and for at least a week, being an amateur meteorologist, too.
There is a 10% chance of rain in St. Louis in the afternoon Tuesday, and 16% at night.
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Rain is in the forecast all next weekend in Pittsburgh, including 24% the final game of the first half.
“Growing up there,” Misiorowski says, “I can tell you that weather can change overnight in the Midwest. You just never know what you’re going to get.”
But, if the baseball gods are watching, a torrential downpour would sure feel good right about now this week.
Or maybe just a change of heart.
Beloved saint
Marlene Rocks, 87, who became one of the first women to establish a sports agency (C.L. Rocks Corporation) with son Burton Rocks, passed away suddenly last week from septic shock. Marlene, who was married to Dr. Lawrence Rocks, was a trained classic pianist and part of former Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo’s band (Montoyo Rocks). Montoyo called her one of the kindest people he’s ever met.
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“She was like a great aunt to me,” veteran infielder Paul DeJong said. “Marlene always treated me with kindness and love. She had a natural way of fitting in wherever she went, whether it be the symphony or a ballgame.”
Said former Cincinnati Reds World Series champion catcher Joe Oliver: “Marlene loves her family more than anything in the world. Her kindness, strength and unwavering devotion to her family touched countless lives. She leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion and dedication that will forever be remembered by all who knew and loved her.”
Kevin O’Malley, the son of former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, who owned and operated several minor-league baseball teams in California, also died of sepsis the past week, at the age of 50. Dr. Rocks is hoping that publicity from the recent deaths will serve as a wake-up call for the government to prioritize antiviral research.
Around the basepaths
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Players and fans can soon stop complaining about veteran umpire CB Bucknor. He is one of seven umpires who have informed MLB that he will retire at the season’s conclusion, accepting their buyout offer. The other six umpires: Laz Diaz, Brian O’Nora, Lance Barksdale, Marvin Hudson, Tony Randazzo and Andy Fletcher. The wave of retirements could open the door for Jen Pawol becoming the first full-time female umpire in 2027.
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While the New York Mets would love to hire Alex Cora as their next manager, Cora still is expected to join the Phillies after rejecting their offer to replace Rob Thomson, who the club fired on April 28. The Phillies instead turned to Don Mattingly. Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran is the favorite for the Mets’ vacancy when interim manager Andy Green returns to the front office this winter.
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The San Francisco Giants, who would love to trade two of their infielders at the trade deadline, need to clear space for power-hitter Bryce Eldridge. They realize it’s stunting his growth as an infielder to keep using him as a DH at the age of 21.
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Mike Trout, who has been on the injured list since June 18 with a hamstring strain, believes he’ll be healthy enough to come off the IL this week in time to play in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, just a 45-minute drive from his hometown of Millville, New Jersey.
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It would have been cool for future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer to be the Commissioner’s selections at this year’s All-Star Game, like Clayton Kershaw a year ago, with the strong possibility this could be the final season of their illustrious careers.
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The MLBPA reminded their players this week that a salary cap could be detrimental to their future earnings even after signing lucrative deals. The NBA, which has a salary cap, required $317 million from escrow to be paid back to the owners after the season with each player’s salary reduced by 5.5%. Golden State Warriors All-Star Steph Curry lost $3.3 million in pay.
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The Dodgers entered Saturday as the lone team in the NL West with a winning record. They are on pace to win 106 games and the NL West by a franchise-record 25 games.
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Oh, where have you gone Rod Carew? Just 30 years ago, there were 34 American League players hitting .300, and 25 players in 2006. Today, there are two. Take a bow, Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays and Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.
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The Baltimore Orioles, who looked like a team that would take off and become a juggernaut when they won 101 games in 2023, now have GM Mike Elias telling teams he’s willing to move prospects at the trade deadline as they desperately try to become relevant again. The Orioles entered the weekend 158-181 since June 20, 2024, and are 101-107 since firing manager Brandon Hyde on May 17, 2025.
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Meanwhile, Mets owner Steve Cohen told the New York Post that not only is David Stearns’ job safe for now, but it’s safe for the entirety of his five-year career. Money certainly is no issue for Cohen, but Stearns is earning about $14 million a year, more than triple the average salary of fellow GMs and presidents of baseball operations.
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The Phillies, who looked dead and buried in April, have become the first team in baseball history to go from 10 under .500 to 10 games over .500 before the month of July.
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The Seattle Mariners aren’t expected to be ultra-aggressive at the trade deadline as in the past, hoping simply that Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena dramatically improve after their first-half struggles, with their overall defense ranking last in outs above average (negative-25). They also are hoping that starter Bryan Woo can figure out why he pitches like a Cy Young winner at home (6-0, 2.10 ERA) and Cy Burger on the road (1-6, 6.38 ERA).
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The Atlanta Braves wonder where they’d be today without super utility player Mauricio Dubón, who has been their savior in the first half, while the Astros can only shake their head wondering how much better off they’d be if they didn’t trade him last winter for infielder Nick Allen. Dubon is hitting .267 with eight homers and 45 RBI, including .371 with a 1.078 OPS with runners in scoring positions, while playing four different positions. Allen is hitting .240 with one homer and six RBI for the Astros.
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The best-kept secret in baseball is Rockies All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, who is the best power-hitting backstop in baseball with 27 homers this season, including an MLB-leading 13 homers in June. He’s the first National League catcher since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench in 1970 to hit 27 homers before the All-Star break. But don’t believe the numbers are inflated because of that thin air at Coors Field. The dude has hit 18 of his homers on the road, the most by a Rockies player before the break in franchise history. Goodman has the ultimate reverse splits for a hitter at Coors: He’s hitting .205 with nine homers, 17 RBI and a .717 OPS in 41 games at Coors Field. He’s hitting .284 with 18 homers, 33 RBI and a .900 OPS in 41 games away from Coors Field. Overall, he leads all catchers with 27 home runs, 169 total bases, 54 runs and a .547 slugging percentage. Yet, when he arrives in Philadelphia for the All-Star Game, he may be the most anonymous All Star in town.
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Congratulations Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who reached 1,000 victories in the shortest number of games in MLB history: 1,606 games, 35 fewer than Cap Anson. Sure, to be a great manager, you must have great players, but there’s also plenty of pressure that goes along with expectations. “You’re not managing any team, you’re managing one of the best teams that’s been ever assembled,” Dodgers veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas told reporters, “so you have more pressure on top of your shoulders, because you’re supposed to win. So, if you don’t win, you’re not a good manager, right?”
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The Phillies badly need Aaron Nola to step up if they’re going to run down the Braves in the NL East. He has struggled since the start of 2025, yielding a 6.02 ERA in 34 starts, third-highest among starters with at least 150 innings. He still hasn’t even thrown 100 pitches in a game since Don Mattingly became the interim manager in April, and just once in his past 27 starts. Perhaps even more painful, Nola still has 4 ½ years left on his seven-year, $172 million contract.
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Carlos Mendoza will have to buck Mets’ tradition if he resurfaces as an MLB manager again. The last Mets manager to be fired and hired again to manage another team is Bobby Valentine, who was fired after 2002 season and resurfaced a decade later with the Boston Red Sox.
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The free-falling San Diego Padres have not sold at the trade deadline since 2019, trading more than 60 prospects and young players for the likes of Juan Soto, Mason Miller, Josh Hader, Tanner Scott, Jason Adam and company. Now, with an underachieving team and a bloated payroll, AJ Preller may have no choice but to wave the white flag if their struggles continue.
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The glorious pitching factory in Cleveland continues: The Guardians still have used only five starters this entire year. The Chicago White Sox have already used 14 starters. The Dodgers (3.48 ERA) are the only team in baseball to have a lower ERA than the Guardians (3.75) in the past decade.
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Excuse me, has anyone seen Paul Skenes? Skenes has made nine starts since May 12, and is 0-6 with a 5.63 ERA, with the Pittsburgh Pirates losing all nine games. He has already given up five homers when throwing his four-seam fastball, is yielding a .366 batting average on his famed splinker, a .444 slugging percentage on his sinker, and is averaging just 5.2 innings per start. Skenes certainly won’t make excuses, but he’s just the latest example of a pitcher participating in the WBC who has struggled since the first half of the season, with his breaking balls not having the same break and his fastball down 2 mph.
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The Miami Marlins, with their 20-8 June, became the first team in MLB history to enter a calendar month at least eight games under .500 and end the month at least six games over .500. They outscored the opposition, 133-80, their greatest calendar month in franchise history, with 15 of the victories against teams with winning records.
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Happy birthday to Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week in Atlanta with Cardinals broadcaster Chip Cary orchestrating a mariachi band to serenade him in the clubhouse. He may receive even a bigger gift this winter with the NL Manager of the Year honor. He and Clayton McCullough of the Marlins are the front-runners at the All-Star break.
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While the White Sox were having a reunion of their 1983 AL West championship last weekend, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf was officiating the wedding for former White Sox great Ron Kittle in his suite.
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The Texas Rangers are in first place having already used 34 different players, including 14 who weren’t on their opening-day roster, and five who weren’t even in the organization in May.
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OK, it wasn’t exactly a blockbuster, but the minor-league trade between the Orioles and Washington Nationals last week – with right-handed pitcher Kyle Nicolas going to Washington for infielder Randal Diaz – officially ended their cold war. It was the first trade between the two teams since the Nationals’ arrival to Washington, D.C., in 2005.
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While Bobby Bonilla Day is hyped every July 1, it might be time to have a joint celebration with former Orioles first baseman Chris Davis. He’s paid $3.5 million every July 1 through 2032, and will earn $1.4 million annually from 2033 to 2037. Davis will be 51 years old when the contract expires.
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Follow Bob Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jacob Misiorowski’s All-Star Game dream might come down to weather
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