For so long, evaluators, fans and even pitchers sneaking glances at their radar gun readings on stadium scoreboards have been focused on velocity—and for good reason. With rising velocity generally ...

In the Tokyo Dome in March, you could almost hear the zip of the ball. 101 mph. The pop of the catcher’s mitt sounded like a gunshot. 100 mph. Roki Sasaki would lift his left leg almost to his head, ...