Sure, it’s a game where speed rules, but what if a pitch is so fast that it’s gone before the batter even realizes it? To top it all off, it doesn’t come from a major league star; it comes from a rising prospect of the minor league who hasn’t made his major league debut yet. Sounds unreal? Well, it’s intensely real in the world of the Cincinnati Reds. To be precise, it’s their No. 20 prospect who has just achieved the season-best feat, and it has taken everyone by surprise.

Despite the Baltimore Orioles handing the defeat to the Reds by 9-5, all eyes were on the Cincinnati Reds’ rising star Luis Mey, who threw a stunning 103.2 mph fastball by Jonathan Rodriguez for strike three.

Not to mention, he was playing his first batter of the game for the Triple-A Louisville Bats. And guess what? It marks the hardest recorded strikeouts at all the levels in this season.

Interestingly, last season we almost saw Mey hit that mark. He threw 103.0 mph for Double-A Chattanooga. This was just enough to catch the entire Reds’ nation off guard. If you add the fact that it was a sinker and not a 4-seamer, it makes the whole thing a lot more interesting.

It only gets better from here. You see, lately, all the games in triple-A have pitch trackers now. Isn’t that great? Well, it’s important to have a reference point so that they know what they’re aiming for. In the same game where Mey achieved 103.2, there were only 16-2 seam fastballs thrown, of which 12 were thrown by Mey. In fact, Fangraphs also took notice and ranked him 103rd overall among the prospects.

If it all works out, he might not just be the key piece of the Reds’ bullpen. In fact, after this stellar performance, he can’t escape the sights on him. For now, all signs point to Luis Mey having some serious major league potential.

Cincinnati Reds to bounce back stronger after 9-5 loss to Orioles

The Cincinnati Reds fell 9-5 in the middle game of their three-day series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles offense was too powerful throughout the game. Well, the Reds didn’t see this painful defeat coming their way. But they have one more shot to do some damage control for the last matchup against the Orioles.

Overall, the Reds stand at 10-11 after the second game’s result. The silver lining for the Reds is that they have hit 22 home runs this season. They are placed at no. 7 in the NL, and they do have a solid offensive potential. With a .308 batting average, Gavin Lux is leading the Reds at the plate. Meanwhile, TJ Friedl has gone 12-for-37 along with 5 RBIs over the previous 10 appearances.

On the other hand, the Baltimore Orioles stand at 9-11 overall and 5-5 at home after the second matchup’s win. The Orioles’ top performers have been Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson. Mullins has earned 5 doubles and 6 home runs, whereas Henderson stands at 12-for-40 along with 4 doubles, a triple, and 2 home runs with 3 RBIs across the past 10 appearances.

Now, the Reds have one last shot to shift the odds in their favor. Excited for this final showdown?