Each team’s prospect with the best fastball

“Throw him the cheese! Throw him the high, stinky Limburger!”

That’s Henry Rowengartner’s line from Rookie of the Year. Of course, pitching is extra of an artwork than merely throwing arduous. But typically – and particularly in an age the place we’re seeing extra velo than ever – typically it’s simply aesthetically pleasing to see a hurler who can dominate with ole numero uno. 

With that in thoughts, these are one of the best fastballs from every of the 30 farm programs:

Orioles: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 7)
Rodriguez could make a case for being baseball’s greatest pitching prospect, partially as a result of he instructions a mid-90s fastball than can attain triple digits and options late life. The Eleventh general decide within the 2018 Draft as a Texas excessive schooler, he logged a 2.20 ERA, .178 opponent common and a 97/21 Ok/BB ratio in 69 2/3 Triple-A innings, although he additionally missed time with a lat pressure.

Red Sox: Luis Perales, RHP (No. 13)
Perales hit 95 mph together with his heater a month after signing for $75,000 out of Venezuela in 2019, and he presently operates within the mid-90s and tops out at 99 with using motion up within the zone. He impressed in his U.S. debut, fashioning a 1.77 ERA, .163 opponent common and 50 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings between Rookie ball and Single-A.

Yankees: Luis Gil, RHP (No. 16)
Acquired from the Twins in a March 2018 commerce for Jake Cave, Gil did not permit a run in his first three large league begins in August 2021 however struggled afterward earlier than having Tommy John surgical procedure final May. When he was absolutely wholesome, his fastball stood out not just for its velocity (averaging 96 mph, reaching 100) but in addition its excessive spin charges and carry and the extension in his supply that allowed it to get on hitters shortly.

Rays: Taj Bradley, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 20)
Bradley actually has the warmth with a 94-96 mph fastball, and he’s touched as excessive as 98.1 mph (by way of Statcast) already this spring, proving that his velo bump during the last two seasons is right here to remain. But the 21-year-old right-hander doesn’t simply stand out by means of the radar gun. Using an athletic supply, Tampa Bay’s prime prospect exhibits spectacular fastball command and may sometimes spot the ball the place he needs to all quadrants of the zone, cementing his possibilities to be at the very least a mid-rotaton starter.

Blue Jays: Yosver Zulueta, RHP (No. 3)
The gasoline has all the time been there for the 25-year-old right-hander, and we lastly bought to see it on Minor League fields final season after Zulueta handled Tommy John and a torn ACL earlier in his profession. The heater flirts with triple-digits when wholesome and has been within the 95-97 mph vary in entrance of Statcast this spring. The Jays insist on persevering with to strive the right-hander in a beginning position, however the velo may play up much more if and when he makes the full-time transfer to the ‘pen.

Guardians: Daniel Espino, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 16)
Espino featured one of the best heater within the 2019 Draft, wherein he went twenty fourth general as a Georgia excessive schooler, and owns one of the best fastball on our Top 100 Prospects record 4 years later. He offers at 95-98 mph and tops out at 103 with a four-seamer with nasty armside run, and he can use it up within the zone with carry or decrease within the zone with downhill airplane. He has averaged 14.9 strikeouts per 9 innings as a professional, however labored simply 18 1/3 frames final yr due to knee and shoulder points and is presently sidelined with a muscle pressure and capsule tear in his shoulder.

Tigers: Elvis Alvarado, RHP (No. 25)
Alvarado performed one yr as an outfielder within the Nationals system earlier than changing to the mound full-time in 2018. Three years (and a transfer to the Mariners) later, the Tigers picked him within the Minor League portion of the Rule 5 Draft based mostly on the hope they may squeeze one thing out of his fastball. It’s labored up to now. Alvarado has touched 98.4 this spring and maxed out at 100.8 mph at Single-A final season. The 24-year-old reliever climbed three ranges in ’22 and can return to the higher Minors in his second marketing campaign within the Detroit system.

Royals: Steven Cruz, RHP (No. 29)
Kansas City acquired the hulking 6-foot-7 hurler in an offseason deal for Michael A. Taylor, and he immediately grew to become the highest flamethrower within the Royals’ Minor League system. Cruz’s missile is available in at 96-100 mph, and its journey up within the zone helps him additional blow it by hitters, as proved by his 72 strikeouts in 56 Double-A innings final season. It’s Cruz’s solely above-average pitch, and additional management considerations restrict his ceiling to a possible setup man as an alternative of a real nearer.

Twins: Connor Prielipp, LHP (No. 5)
Prielipp was a contender for the No. 1 general decide within the 2022 Draft earlier than he had Tommy John surgical procedure in May 2021, and he did not pitch in a recreation final yr previous to the Twins signing him for an general slot $1,825,000 within the second spherical. His wipeout slider is his greatest pitch, and he units it up with a 92-95 mph heater that performs higher than its velocity due to his deception and talent to maneuver it across the strike zone.

White Sox: Franklin German, RHP (No. 27)
Traded by each the Yankees and the Red Sox (for righty pitching prospect Theo Denlinger final month), German has seen his fastball go from the low 90s as a university starter at North Florida to parking at 96-98 mph and peaking at 100 since Boston made him a full-time reliever in late 2021. He recorded a 2.72 ERA, .155 opponent common and 64 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A earlier than getting tagged for 4 runs in 4 frames in his large league debut.

Angels: Ben Joyce, RHP (No. 11)
After lacking all of 2021 whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure, Joyce went viral final spring at Tennessee when his fastball hit 103 mph in his second look, was clocked at 105.5 mph in May and averaged 101 all through the spring. A 3rd-round decide in July, he went straight to Double-A and posted a 2.08 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 13 innings, and he has spun 4 scoreless outings in large league camp this spring.

Astros: Miguel Ulloa, RHP (No. 12)
Signed for simply $75,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, Ullola reminds membership officers of Cristian Javier at the same stage of their careers due to his means to dominate hitters together with his heater alone. Working at 93-95 mph and reaching 98 with a flat strategy angle and great carry, he notched a 3.25 ERA, .157 opponent common and 120 strikeouts in 72 Single-A innings. His price of 15.0 whiffs per 9 innings topped all Minor Leaguers who pitched at the very least as many frames.

Athletics: Luis Medina, RHP (No. 21)
Part of the Frankie Montas/Lou Trivino commerce with the Yankees final August, Medina has one of the vital electrical arms within the Minors however little monitor file of harnessing it. His fastball sits at 95-98 mph and reaches 103 with pure reduce, and he can also flash a hammer curveball and a nicely above-average changeup, however he bought rocked for a 5.24 ERA whereas placing out 107 in 92 2/3 Double-A innings

Mariners: Bryce Miller, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 98)
A 2021 fourth-rounder, Miller was a starter for simply the final of his three seasons at Texas A&M however excelled in that position throughout his first full professional season, logging a 3.16 ERA with a .195 opponent common and 163 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings whereas advancing to Double-A. His heater sits at 94-96 mph and touches 100, and his flat strategy angle and late life permit him to throw it by hitters within the strike zone.

Rangers: Emiliano Teodo, RHP (No. 21)
Teodo has emerged as one of the best prospect within the Rangers’ 2019-20 worldwide class regardless of signing out of the Dominican Republic for simply $10,000 on the comparatively superior age of 18 years and 11 months. His fastball parked at 95-98 mph and climbed to 103 with late hop throughout his full-season debut final yr, when he recorded a 3.09 ERA, .171 common and 115 strikeouts in 84 1/3 Single-A innings.

Braves: Victor Vodnik, RHP (No. 11)
Don’t decide a hard-throwing hurler by his dimension. Vodnik stands at simply 6-foot, however the 23-year-old right-hander has touched 99.7 mph this spring and was averaging round 96 mph on his heater in 2022. Injuries have pushed the 2018 14th-rounder to the bullpen on a full-time foundation, however he’s a great match on the market because it ought to permit him to let the fastball fly a bit extra. Pair that with a plus changeup, and Vodnik may assist the Atlanta aid corps in brief order.

Marlins: Eury Pérez, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 13)
Pérez has turn out to be one of many recreation’s prime mound prospects since signing for $200,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, and his heater is among the explanation why. He operates at 94-97 mph and maxes out at 100 with high quality form, operating motion, induced vertical break and command. He compiled a 4.08 ERA, .223 opponent common and 106/25 Ok/BB ratio in 75 Double-A innings — at age 19. He did miss two months with a lat pressure.

Mets: Bryce Montes de Oca, RHP (No. 22)
The 6-foot-7 right-hander has turn out to be a little bit of a social-media sensation this spring. His sinker has topped out at 101.9 mph on Statcast. As if that wasn’t sufficient, he throws it with near 7 ft of extension, placing himself much more proper on prime of hitters. As if these two weren’t sufficient, the pitch comes with about 20 inches of armside horizontal break, thus zooming to the hurler’s proper and turning into even more durable to select up. Unfortunately, all that motion and velo could be troublesome to command constantly, and the right-hander, who has an extended harm historical past, is presently shelved with a stress response in his proper elbow.

Phillies: Andrew Baker, RHP (No. 17)
There are many good heaters on this system with Andrew Painter and Griff McGarry receiving 70 grades for the pitch. But Baker’s fastball is a notch above even theirs. The 2021 Eleventh-rounder averaged 98.5 mph on the fastball final season at High-A and Double-A and touched as excessive as 102. Perhaps most astonishingly, he improved his management as his first full marketing campaign wore on, and that mixture of velo and accuracy may get him to the Philly bullpen by the second half.

Nationals: Jarlin Susana, RHP (No. 6)
The January 2022 signing was turning into a complex-level sensation when he was sitting 98-99 mph throughout his first marketing campaign within the Padres system. That elite velo made him a high-ceiling addition as a part of the Juan Soto blockbuster in August, and he introduced the identical flames to the Nats system, touching 103 with Single-A Fredericksburg shortly after the deal. Susana solely turns 19 subsequent Thursday, so the Nats must keep a plan that retains him bringing that very same warmth whereas maintaining him wholesome as he climbs towards the capital.

Cubs: Daniel Palencia, RHP (No. 14)
The Cubs requested for Palencia of their 2021 Andrew Chafin commerce with the Athletics due to his fastball, which sits at 96-98 mph, peaks at 102 and carries by hitters on the prime of the strike zone. He flashes some nasty sliders and knuckle-curves as nicely, and he put up a 3.94 ERA, .204 opponent common and 98 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings in High-A.

Reds: Ricky Karcher, RHP (No. 29)
Cincinnati optioned Karcher to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, nevertheless it isn’t arduous to think about he may very well be up with the large membership inside the first month or two. The 6-foot-4 right-hander sat round 96-98 mph with the fastball final season at Triple-A and Double-A and reached triple-digits just a few occasions. In pairing that together with his slider, the 2017 Thirteenth-rounder struck out 88 in 56 2/3 innings, a Ok price that helped earn him a 40-man spot in November.

Brewers: Abner Uribe, RHP (No. 12)
Multiple knee accidents have been the one factor holding again Uribe from reaching the Milwaukee bullpen in current seasons. The 6-foot-3 right-hander missed all the 2022 common season with a torn left meniscus, solely to come back again and sit 98-99 mph together with his sinker within the Arizona Fall League. So lengthy as he’s on the mound, he’s all the time a risk to achieve 100+, and the Brewers realize it’s only a ready recreation (doubtlessly a brief one) earlier than they’ll take Uribe’s heater to The Show.

Pirates: Luis Ortiz, RHP (No. 8)
After exhibiting regular velocity positive aspects within the Minors, Ortiz arrived within the Majors final yr with Pittsburgh and proceeded to common 98.4 mph on his four-seamer, placing him within the 98th percentile for fastball velocity on the recreation’s prime degree. He touched 99.7 mph as a Dominican Republic reliever within the WBC this spring, and the motion on the pitch could make it an absolute buzzsaw, particularly in opposition to right-handers who wrestle most in opposition to Ortiz.

Cardinals: Guillermo Zuñiga, RHP (No. 30)
Entering Thursday, solely two pitchers had reached 102 mph within the World Baseball Classic. One is all-planet expertise Shohei Ohtani. The different is Zuñiga, who did so on March 11 in a aid look in opposition to Mexico. (He earned the win and struck out 4 over two scoreless innings within the 5-4, 10-frame victory). The 6-foot-5 right-hander extra sometimes sits within the 96-99 mph vary, and regardless of some severe management considerations, it’s that velo that earned him a Major League contract with the Cardinals this spring, regardless of his lack of expertise above Double-A.

D-backs: Justin Martinez, RHP (No. 21)
Since Arizona performs its spring dwelling video games at Salt River Fields, we get Statcast knowledge on Martinez’s dwelling appearances. Entering Thursday, the right-hander has thrown 36 pitches in entrance of the machines. Seventeen of them had been 100 mph or above. That’ll play. The 6-foot-3 right-hander was extra sometimes round 96-99 mph within the Arizona Fall League final yr, as he was making up for time misplaced to Tommy John surgical procedure, so the continued velo is notable. Now on the 40-man, Martinez must be a aid candidate for the D-backs this summer time.

Rockies: Jaden Hill, RHP (No. 9)
We’ve solely seen Hill’s velo in flashes contemplating he threw solely 51 1/3 innings at LSU and was coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure for many of 2022. However, the 2021 second-rounder fastball regarded like its outdated self upon his return again within the mid-90s. Colorado is working with the 6-foot-4 right-hander on including extra motion, however the constructing blocks are there to make it at the very least a plus pitch the extra he throws it.

Dodgers: Nick Frasso, RHP (No. 11)
The Dodgers could have pulled off a steal by grabbing Frasso from the Blue Jays within the Mitch White commerce final August. Coming again from June 2021 elbow surgical procedure, he devastated hitters together with his heater final yr, averaging 96 mph and touching 100 with armside run and misleading extension in his supply. He long-established a 1.83 ERA, .171 opponent common and a 76/17 Ok/BB ratio in 54 innings whereas rising from Single-A to Double-A.

Padres: Angel Felipe, RHP (No. 30)
Having toiled by means of the decrease ranges of the Rays system for six seasons, Felipe popped in 2022 together with his particular velocity. He maxed out at 101.2 mph at Triple-A in September and had 71 of the 72 highest velos recorded by Statcast amongst El Paso pitchers in ’22, regardless of solely becoming a member of the Chihuahuas in mid-August. He’s on the 40-man roster now, which was a simple name contemplating he would have been a Rule 5 decide if left accessible over the winter.

Giants: Cole Waites, RHP (No. 21)
An 18th-round pick of NCAA Division II West Alabama in 2019, Waites pitched simply 30 2/3 innings in his first three years as a professional earlier than using his fastball from Single-A to the Majors final season. He operates at 95-98 mph and reaches 100 with carry and boring motion in on right-handers. His 16.4 strikeouts per 9 innings ranked second amongst Minor League relievers (minimal 40 innings) in 2022  earlier than he claimed Mookie Betts as his first Ok sufferer within the large leagues.