By many pitchers’ standards, Walker Buehler’s numbers are pretty good, but they are certainly not up to his normal standards. As fans, it is easy to say that his fastball is declining, but that is a rather simplistic overview. Of course, over time a pitcher’s fastball will decline or if it doesn’t he will ultimately need Tommy John Surgery. It was never sustainable for Walker Buehler to pitch at 98 to 100 MPH. Walker is a strong man, but his frame is slight. Much like Pedro Martinez, who dropped some velocity in his prime, it is not surprising that Walker has dropped a few MPH on his 4-seamer.
Buehler & Kimbrel – Same Worry, Different Reasons
