A Spring breakout matchup between two top prospects delivered one of the most eye-catching moments of the preseason, as 18-year-old Miguel Sime Jr. showed off elite velocity in a way few hitters will forget.
Pitching for the Washington Nationals, Sime squared off against JJ Wetherholt, the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball and top prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals system. What followed quickly made the rounds across social media.
After falling behind 3-0 in the count due in part to a pitch-clock violation and a pair of high-velocity misses, Sime regrouped. He mixed in off-speed pitches to get back into the at-bat before unleashing a 100.8 mph fastball up in the zone on a full count. Wetherholt swung through it with such force that his helmet flew off, creating a dramatic visual to match the sheer speed of the pitch.
A sequence that highlighted Sime’s power and composure
The sequence highlighted both Sime‘s raw power and his composure. Despite early control issues, the 6-foot-4 right-hander showed the ability to adjust mid-at-bat against one of the game’s most advanced young hitters. Over his lone inning, Sime threw nine pitches that reached triple digits, underlining just how rare his arm talent is at his age.
Teammates weren’t surprised by the performance. Fellow Nationals prospect Gavin Fien, who had a standout game at the plate, described the contrast between Sime‘s calm demeanor off the field and his intensity on the mound. Top prospect Eli Willits echoed that sentiment, pointing to Sime’s work ethic as the foundation for his rapid rise.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2025 Draft out of Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, Sime is already turning heads early in his professional career. While many pitchers spend years building up to triple-digit velocity, he’s already there and refining how to use it.
For Sime, the focus isn’t just on throwing harder. He’s comfortable with where his velocity stands and is more concerned with sharpening his overall approach. If this outing is any indication, that combination of power and poise could make him one of the most intriguing young arms to watch as the season unfolds.
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