Jake Irvin’s fastball velocity was well below his 2024 average in rough spring outing
Jake Irvin is set to be the Nationals number 2 starter this season after a promising 2024 campaign. While he struggled in the second half, Irvin was a rock in the Nats rotation, throwing a team high 187.2 innings last season. However, his stuff did not look the same in his outing against the Cardinals today.
The fastball velocity is the biggest issue. He averaged 91.4 MPH on his heater today and topped out at 93. For context, his heater averaged 93.9 MPH in 2024. This velocity dip is alarming for a guy who throws either a fastball or sinker 58.4% of the time. Irvin’s bread and butter is the fastball and he needs the velocity to be in the mid-90’s to have success. On the homer he gave up to Alec Burleson, he threw a heater at just 89.4 MPH.
The Nationals are relying on Irvin to give them a lot of innings and pitch at a high level. That simply won’t happen if he is throwing 91 MPH. Jake Irvin is not a Greg Maddux level command artist, so he needs the velocity. He is not even a Trevor Williams, who’s high 80’s heater plays up due to deception.
This is a situation we will have to monitor as we enter the regular season. Irvin said he felt fine physically after the start, which is a relief. However, the Nationals young rotation will need to show they are legit in 2025.
Guys like Irvin and Mitchell Parker faded down the stretch after strong starts. Was that just fatigue, or is it a bad omen? I am not sure, but what I do know is that Jake Irvin needs to find his velocity if he is to build off his 2024 campaign. Irvin also did not throw his new slider, which I was very excited about earlier this spring. We will hope that this is a blip on the radar and that Irvin can get back to his best in the regular season.