Dodgers add pitcher with 102mph fastball for first MLB action since 2021

Exciting promotion by Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are promoting one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball.

According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, the Dodgers are calling up right-hander Julian Fernandez from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Fernandez hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2021.

But most of note about that major league tenure with the Rockies is this: Fernandez threw a pitch 102.4 miles per hour.

That’s fast.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Fernández didn’t get enough outs to stick around. He had a 10.80 ERA in his six MLB appearances for the Rockies and hasn’t been back since, until now.

Fernández spent his full 2022 and 2023 seasons at Triple-A.

In 2024, he left affiliated ball entirely and pitched in the Mexican League.

The Dodgers gave him a shot at the start of this season, and he’s been at Triple-A since opening day.

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For Oklahoma City, Fernandez has had a 4.08 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.

Fernandez clearly isn’t a foolproof pitcher despite his immense velocity, but he still qualifies as an exciting call up. It’s not every day a new pitcher arrives in the big leagues throwing 100 (although it happens a lot more now). 

Fernandez will likely have to prove himself quickly in order to get a chance to stick around. His velocity should give him a chance.

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Category: Baseball