For pitchers, reaching 170 km/h (about 105 mph) is often considered a dream milestone.

A pitch at that speed reaches home plate in roughly 0.3 seconds, while the average human reaction time is around 0.4 seconds—making it an overwhelming advantage.

Currently, the fastest pitch ever recorded in Major League Baseball belongs to Aroldis Chapman at 105.8 mph (about 170.3 km/h).
It’s a level even Ohtani’s top velocity of around 165 km/h does not yet reach.

However, according to sports medicine research in the United States, velocities above 161 km/h place extreme stress on the elbow ligament, significantly increasing the risk of injury.

Given the growing number of pitching injuries in recent years, whether chasing 170 km/h is truly worthwhile remains a matter of debate.

Ohtani, who has consistently thrown over 160 km/h since his days with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, has a strong interest in velocity.

Yet at the same time, he maintains a clear perspective:

“But even if I can throw 170 km/h, it means nothing if I can’t throw strikes.”

Velocity alone represents immense potential.
But without the ability to control the ball—without being able to locate it where he intends—a pitcher cannot consistently win, nor become the best.

For Ohtani, true dominance lies not just in speed,
but in the ability to command that speed—
to place fastballs precisely on the inside and outside corners and control the game.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Baseball Youth II: MLB Edition 2018–2024 – Shohei Ohtani Long Interview, p.105