It only took two appearances for Dominican pitcher Jhoan Duran to make his mark in Philadelphia.
In just his second game with the team, the new closer set a velocity record at Citizens Bank Park, confirming why he is considered one of the most dominant relievers in Major League Baseball
Duran, who joined the Phillies in a trade with the Twins just before the deadline, threw a 103.3 mph fastball during the ninth inning of the 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers
Jhoan Duran sets new record with the Phillies
The pitch, which was against All-Star Riley Greene, became the fastest recorded in Phillies stadium history since electronic pitch tracking began.
Although Greene managed to make contact and the ball went foul, Duran closed the game with another fastball, this time at 102.5 mph, which earned him the final strikeout and a second record: the fastest final strikeout of a game for the Phillies since the pitch-tracking era began in 2008, according to MLB analyst Sarah Langs.
Rob Thomson talks about Jhoan Duran’s spectacular start with the Phillies
After the game, manager Rob Thomson humorously told the Philadelphia Inquirer: “That’s pretty good.”
Duran was acquired in exchange for two of the organization’s top prospects: Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait. With a 1.93 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 51.1 innings this season, his arrival has generated excitement among fans and analysts.
But it is not only his arm that has made an impact. His characteristic entrance from the bullpen, which includes the song “El Incomprendido” by Farruko with Pitbull and Daddy Yankee, was also adopted by the Phillies. During his home debut, fans lit up the stadium with their cell phone flashlights, replicating the spectacle that used to accompany him in Minnesota.
How good is Jhoan Duran?
Duran made his Major League debut in 2022 with the Minnesota Twins and has posted an ERA under 3.00 in three of his first four seasons in MLB.
The Dominican-born pitcher, who was born in 1998, has long been known for his powerful fastball of more than 100 mph. He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Minnesota Twins and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant closers in baseball.
However, his arsenal is varied, which has allowed him to maintain an ERA below 3.00 in most of his seasons, which is why the Phillies made the decision to add him to their roster, a move that has delivered positive results from day one.
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