As fictitious Cleveland supervisor Lou Brown says from the dugout to his mercurial younger star, “Wild Factor” Vaughn, in a climactic second towards the Yankees within the film “Main League”:
Overlook the curveball, Ricky, give him the heater.
Spoiler alert, Ricky does certainly give him the heater and blows 101 mph by feared Yankees slugger Clu Heywood to arrange heroics within the backside of the inning.
Hollywood can do a superb job dramatizing a second. However any baseball fan is aware of simply how thrilling it may be to see somebody mild up the radar gun. Certain, pitching is, and needs to be, about extra than simply throwing arduous.
And as we check out the perfect fastball in every farm system, understand that “finest” doesn’t all the time imply hardest. With the ability to command the pitch, life up within the zone, induced vertical break … these are all issues Ricky Vaughn by no means thought of.
Blue Jays: Ricky Tiedemann, LHP (MLB No. 29)Even after battling shoulder and biceps points final yr, Tiedemann definitely seemed wholesome on the finish of final season, sitting within the mid-90s in Triple-A and the Arizona Fall League and touching as excessive as 97.6 mph in entrance of Statcast cameras in these circuits. The 6-foot-4 left-hander throws from a troublesome low three-quarters slot, and hitters may even have bother selecting up the heater till it’s blown previous them. It’s a giant motive why Tiedemann has as a lot upside as any left-handed pitching prospect within the sport at this time.
Orioles: Luis Sánchez, RHPThe Orioles signed Sánchez in November of 2019 for $200,000 a bit earlier than they turned large gamers once more on the worldwide market. He obtained a handful of begins throughout his 2021 debut within the Dominican Summer time League, however he’s a reliever solely within the “throws actually arduous, doesn’t all the time know the place it’s going” class. He struck out 12.1 per 9 in his full-season debut in 2023, but in addition walked 6.0 per 9, utilizing a fastball that’s as much as 101 mph with a ton of hop on the prime of the zone.
Rays: Yoniel Curet, RHPCuret solely reached Excessive-A in 2023 however was added to Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster when he turned Rule 5-eligible within the offseason. A giant motive why? They didn’t need to threat shedding his heater. The 21-year-old right-hander throws a four-seamer that touches 98 and explodes up within the zone, getting whiffs by itself and serving to his plus slider additionally play up. Curet struck out 144 in 104 innings final season however might want to enhance management earlier than seeing the bigs.
Pink Sox: Luis Perales, RHPSigned for simply $75,000 out of Venezuela in July 2019, Perales touched 95 mph together with his fastball within the Dominican Republic’s Tough League a month later and now operates within the mid-90s and maxes out at 99 with a flat strategy angle and great carry. He logged a 3.91 ERA, .230 opponent common and 115 strikeouts in 89 2/3 innings between two Class A ranges at age 20.
Yankees: Carlos Lagrange, RHPJust months after turning professional for a mere $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January 2022, the 6-foot-7 Lagrange was unleashing some upper-90s fastballs within the Rookie-level Dominican Summer time League. He commonly offers at 94-97 mph and reaches triple digits, favoring a heavy two-seamer over a driving four-seamer, and he topped the Rookie-level Florida Complicated League with 63 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings throughout his U.S. debut final yr.
Guardians: Daniel Espino, RHP (MLB No. 100)Espino’s pure stuff ranks with the perfect within the Minors, beginning with a four-seamer that parks at 95-98 mph and peaks at 103 with loads of armside run, and he has the aptitude to work it on the prime or backside of the strike zone. The one knock on the 2019 first-rounder from a Georgia highschool is that he has pitched simply 18 1/3 innings within the final two seasons. Knee tendinitis sidelined him in Could 2022 earlier than he developed shoulder soreness whereas rehabbing, resulting in surgical procedure final Could to restore a muscle pressure and capsule tear. When wholesome, he has recorded 221 strikeouts in 133 2/3 professional innings.
Royals: John McMillon, RHPSigned as an undrafted free agent in 2020, McMillon made his Main League debut in mid-August and instantly confirmed the plus-plus heater he rode to The Present. His four-seamer averaged 98.8 mph throughout his four-game keep within the bigs, placing him in Emmanuel Clase and Jacob deGrom territory for velo, and he touched as excessive as 100.6. The motion profile is nearer to common, however at that degree of warmth, it’s clear why Kansas Metropolis believes McMillon has back-of-the-bullpen potential.
Tigers: Jackson Jobe, RHP (MLB No. 25)By his personal admission, the 2021 third total choose entered the skilled ranks with a “dead-zone fastball” and has labored on including extra journey throughout his time within the Tigers system. The progress has been spectacular as he’s as much as 94-97 mph with an goal to point out 18 inches of induced vertical break. He instructions his improved heater particularly nicely regardless of the elevated motion and walked solely six over 64 Minor League innings in 2023.
Twins: Matt Canterino, RHPTip of the cap to David Festa, who may throw a contact tougher at this level than Canterino and has stayed wholesome. Each get swings-and-misses with their heaters, however a wholesome Canterino — and the Twins are eager for that in 2024 — has elite motion on his plus fastball that averages round 95 mph and touches 97 mph.
White Sox: Jordan Leasure, RHPThe Dodgers helped Leasure improve his stuff after drafting him in 2021’s 14th spherical after his fifth yr at NCAA Division II Tampa, then included him within the Lance Lynn/Joe Kelly cope with the White Sox final July. He has gone from a reasonably strange low-90s fastball in faculty to a 96-98 mph heater that touches 100 popping out of a low launch top with a variety of extension in his supply. He has a 3.76 ERA with a .200 opponent common and 176 strikeouts in 117 1/3 profession innings, and he might be closing video games for Chicago within the close to future.
Angels: Ben Joyce, RHPWe’ve been speaking about Joyce’s fastball since his Draft yr in 2022 when he averaged 101 mph and topped out at 105.5 mph at Tennessee. The Angels’ third-round choose made his large league debut in his first full season and struck out 13.8 per 9 in Double-A, although issues about his sturdiness stay after he missed a number of months. When he was on the mound, his fastball nonetheless averaged 100.4 mph and topped out at 103.
A’s: Mason Miller, RHPWe know that if Miller can keep wholesome, his energy stuff goes to play within the large leagues. The slider is likely to be the out pitch, however he additionally elicited a 30 % miss price on his fastball within the Minors and the large leagues in 2023, a pitch that averaged over 98 mph and reached 103 mph with loads of carry up within the zone.
Astros: Miguel Ullola, RHPUllola might be one more older discount pitcher on the worldwide marketplace for the Astros, who signed him for $75,000 as an 18 1/2-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. His four-seamer operates at 92-95 and tops out at 97 mph and is so electrical with its flat strategy angle and distinctive carry that Minor Leaguers have accomplished little towards it, although he typically has to sacrifice some velocity to throw strikes. He averaged 13.2 strikeouts — and 6.7 walks — per 9 innings in his first three professional seasons.
Mariners: Cole Phillips, RHPIt may appear unusual to choose a man who simply obtained to the group — courtesy of the commerce with the Braves that despatched Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta – and who has but to throw an official skilled pitch. And he gained’t till 2025 due to a second Tommy John surgical procedure he required simply forward of Spring Coaching. Assuming it comes again as soon as he’s wholesome, it’s a mid-90s pitch that sneaks as much as triple digits and options glorious operating motion.
Rangers: Emiliano Teodo, RHPTeodo was practically 19 when he signed for simply $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2020 and wowed scouts by touching 102 mph throughout educational league that fall. Although he can pitch at 95-98 mph and attain 103 together with his four-seamer, it tended to flatten out at increased velocities, so he switched at midseason final yr to a two-seamer with comparable warmth and loads of sink. He has averaged 12.3 strikeouts per 9 innings as a starter in every of the final two seasons, then gained Arizona Fall League reduction pitcher of the yr accolades final offseason.
Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP (MLB No. 69)Despite the fact that Smith-Shawver raced his method from Excessive-A to the large leagues in 2023, he’s removed from a completed product. He’s simply 21 for all the 2024 season, so there might be extra within the tank by way of constant velocity to return as he figures issues out. And he already has loads of fastball, a pitch that sat round 95 mph final yr and touched triple digits with good life.
Marlins: Thomas White, LHP (LHP No. 8)White ranked as the perfect left-hander within the 2023 Draft, partially as a result of he has a fastball that already sits at 92-95 mph and reaches 97 with run and carry. Signed for mid-first-round cash ($4.1 million) as a supplemental first-rounder from a Massachusetts highschool, he might add extra velocity as he fills out his projectable 6-foot-5 body, although he’ll want to enhance his command of his heater.
Mets: Raimon Gomez, RHPGomez seemed primed for a breakout in 2023 with a fastball that was averaging 100 mph in Spring Coaching backfields outings, however Tommy John surgical procedure ended that after three Excessive-A begins. The 6-foot-2 right-hander was usually nearer to 96-98 mph in regular-season outings earlier than the process, and he had the journey up within the zone to get whiffs (12 in seven innings). Control Gomez’s post-TJ return this summer time earlier than he turns into Rule-5 eligible within the offseason.
Nationals: Jarlin Susana, RHPOne of the prospect items concerned within the 2022 blockbuster commerce involving Juan Soto, Susana continues to have one of many hottest heaters within the Minors, touching as excessive as 103 and sitting 97-99. Velo alone would get it an 80 grade, nevertheless it’s pretty straight, one thing upper-level hitters will be capable to choose up, and his command may be scattershot. Nonetheless, 103 is 103, and Susana will nonetheless solely be 20 on Opening Day, making him one other high-upside expertise within the Nats system.
Phillies: Andrew Painter, RHP (MLB No. 27)This one is on maintain for now as Tommy John surgical procedure in late July will preserve Painter out for the season (Observe to Phillies: We might be OK seeing him within the Arizona Fall League.). However his mixture of stuff and command makes his complete arsenal stand out, beginning with a fastball that may hit triple digits and averaged round 96 mph in 2022. He really has each a sinking two-seamer and a four-seamer with excessive spin charges up within the zone.
Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (MLB No. 33)Trying like he’s all elbows and limbs from the bump, Misiorowski is 6-foot-7 and will get large extension to seem like he’s proper on prime of opposing batters from a low three-quarters slot. As if that didn’t make issues arduous sufficient, he sits within the upper-90s together with his heater and may crank it up nicely into triple digits, as he did within the Futures Sport the place he touched 102.4 mph. Management is a giant concern with Misiorowski’s explosive arsenal, however even his flooring might be that of a nasty Main League reliever.
Cardinals: Edwin Nunez, RHPSince he debuted in 2021, Nunez has proven among the best fastballs within the Cardinals system, and that declare continued final season, when he topped out at 99.9 mph within the Florida State League and threw 24 of the 30 hardest pitches of Single-A Palm Seashore’s marketing campaign. The heater acts extra like a sinker and is extra hittable than the radar gun would point out, however the 22-year-old has few rivals in relation to pure velocity as he climbs towards the higher Minors.
Cubs: Luke Little, LHPLittle purportedly hit 105 mph in a video posted on social media through the pandemic, and whereas that will or could not have been actual, he did contact 102 at San Jacinto (Texas) JC within the spring of 2020 earlier than going within the fourth spherical of that yr’s Draft. He has dialed again his fastball a bit to seek out extra strikes but nonetheless works at 94-96 mph and touches 99, and it performs higher than its velocity because of its carry and the large extension he creates together with his 6-foot-8 body. He notched 225 strikeouts in 140 1/3 innings whereas holding opponents to a .178 common in three years within the Minors earlier than making his large league debut final September and fanning 12 of the 30 batters he confronted.
Pirates: Paul Skenes, RHP (MLB No. 3)Greatest fastball within the system? How about finest fastball within the Minors? An argument definitely may be made because the No. 1 choose in final yr’s Draft brings a heater that averaged 98 mph at Louisiana State final yr and topped out at 102 mph. His flat strategy angle and carry make the heater extraordinarily tough to hit and he instructions it very nicely, explanation why he had a 30-percent miss price on it final spring.
Reds: Connor Phillips, RHP (MLB No. 70)Phillips has lengthy confirmed off elite-level stuff whereas nonetheless studying learn how to harness it. Throughout all ranges, together with his large league debut late final yr, he’s produced a 12.7 % strikeout price, whereas strolling 5.3 per 9. He was as much as 99 mph together with his fastball throughout three ranges in 2023, sitting round 96 mph, and options excessive spin and massive induced vertical break to elicit swings-and-misses.
D-backs: Justin Martinez, RHPEntering Wednesday, Martinez has the 14 quickest pitches thrown in entrance of Statcast cameras this spring, every of which was thrown at 100.2 mph and above. Return to final yr, and the 22-year-old right-hander averaged 99.9 mph on his heater over 47 appearances with Triple-A Reno – the very best common fastball velo on the Minors’ prime degree – and in 10 Main League outings, that was as much as 100.6, fourth-best amongst hurlers with a minimum of 100 pitches. Martinez has to enhance a stroll price round 20 %, however that elite warmth will preserve getting him possibilities.
Dodgers: Nick Frasso, RHP (MLB No. 80)Frasso has turn into the Dodgers’ finest pitching prospect since they acquired him in a 2022 commerce that despatched Mitch White and infield prospect Alex DeJesus to the Blue Jays, although he could miss all of this yr following surgical procedure final November to restore a torn labrum in his shoulder. His fastball ranges from 94-97 mph and reaches 100 with armside run, and the extension he creates together with his supply could also be simply as spectacular as his velocity. He posted a 3.77 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 93 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.
Giants: Kyle Harrison, LHP (MLB No. 23)Harrison’s fastball is the largest motive why he is the sport’s top-rated lefty pitching prospect, taking part in nicely above its 92-97 mph velocity due to its driving motion, flat strategy angle and the extension in his supply. The 2020 third-rounder from a California highschool led the Minors in strikeout price (14.8 per 9 innings) and share (39.8) in 2022 and was making a run at repeating final yr till he was promoted to San Francisco 10 days after his twenty second birthday.
Padres: Jairo Iriarte, RHPSan Diego flirted with the concept of utilizing Iriarte of their Main League bullpen within the second half of the 2023 season and gave him reduction appears in Double-A as a result of his mid-90s fastball works so nicely. The 22-year-old right-hander makes that velo look slightly easy, and his fastball can present each good journey and run, drifting up and in on righties and up and away from lefties as he wears out the excessive armside nook of the zone.
Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP (MLB No. 52)Jaden Hill deserves a point out as does Victor Vodnik by way of pure velocity. However with each being relievers, Dollander’s potential to keep up his stuff, despite the fact that he wasn’t fairly as dominant as some anticipated throughout his junior yr at Tennessee, offers him the sting. The Rockies’ first-rounder final summer time nonetheless averaged round 96 mph together with his fastball in 2023 and touched 99 mph. The pitch has glorious carry and missed bats at a 30-percent price final spring.
