104.5 mph?! Single-A Mets hurler records strikeout on fastest pitch of 2025
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There are plenty of things that can exceed 104 mph. Cars, trains, airplanes ... even wind.
A pitch, however, generally isn't one of those -- unless you're Raimon Gomez.
The Mets right-hander came out blazing in the first inning at Clover Park, reaching triple digits with his heater on 11 of 12 pitches for Single-A St. Lucie. Discounting the 86.9 mph slider he threw to end the frame, the slowest offering from Gomez was a 100.2 mph fastball that missed the strike zone.
At 104.5 mph, Gomez's heater marks the fastest pitch officially recorded by Statcast in the Minors over the past five years. (To note: Statcast data has been available for Triple-A games since 2023 and for the Florida State League since 2021. It is not available in the other leagues.)
The pitch also marks the hardest thrown ball at either the Minor or Major League level this season. The Athletics' Mason Miller (103.7 mph) comes in second, with Reds No. 20 prospect Luis Mey (Triple-A) and the Angels' Ben Joyce having also topped 103 in 2025.
Gomez, who tossed three hitless innings against Daytona, topped the century mark in speed on 23 of his 38 pitches, striking out four and walking one for St. Lucie. Going back to his last outing against Tampa, the Venezuela-born hurler has hit 100 mph or more on the radar gun on 40 of his 82 pitches.
Gomez signed with the Mets as an international free agent in 2021 but missed all of last year due to injury. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder had a 3.78 ERA in 24 appearances (two starts) in his last -- and only -- full season in 2022 with St. Lucie.
Gomez has yet to allow a run through three starts this year while striking out 11 over 7 2/3 innings.