San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mason Miller made <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB history on Tuesday by throwing a 103.9 mph fastball that became the fastest pitch hit for a home run since StatCast began tracking pitch speeds in 2008. This notable event happened during the Padres’ extra-innings victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, marking a rare moment where Miller’s blazing fastball was taken deep.
Mason Miller’s Historic Fastball and Game Impact
Miller entered the game in the eighth inning and quickly retired Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll before issuing a walk to Geraldo Perdomo. When Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stepped up to bat, he connected on Miller’s 103.9 mph fastball for a two-run homer, tying the game and forcing extra innings. Despite the homer, the Padres rallied with a decisive five-run 11th inning to secure the win.
Reflecting on the pitch, Miller said, “I have two good pitches,” explaining,
“At the end of the day, I’m never going to say I should have thrown the other one. Just ultimately could have executed a little bit better. And that’s what it comes down to. That fastball out over the plate, maybe he fouls it in the stands. But up (and) in, that’s the spot that he’s able to get to.”
—Mason Miller, Padres pitcher
Miller’s Redemption and Role with the Padres
Mason Miller rebounded strongly in the following game, delivering a flawless ninth inning with three strikeouts to earn his first save as a Padre. His performance helped the team clinch the final game of their three-game series against the Diamondbacks.
The Padres acquired Miller from the Oakland Athletics in what was considered the premier trade move of this season’s deadline. The Padres exchanged four top-30 prospects, including MLB’s No. 3 prospect Leo De Vries, for Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears. While Sears was optioned to Triple-A soon after, Miller remains under team control through 2029 and is expected to be a key part of the Padres’ bullpen for years ahead.
Although Miller has struggled somewhat with home runs this season, allowing 1.1 homers per nine innings, his overall numbers have stayed solid, especially considering he has pitched primarily in hitter-friendly ballparks.
Padres’ Bullpen and Playoff Prospects
The Padres’ bullpen, possibly the best in MLB, has helped the team narrow the gap with the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. As of Thursday, the Padres trailed the Dodgers by just two games while moving up a spot in the Wild Card standings and maintaining a comfortable one-game cushion over the New York Mets.
The team’s upcoming schedule features two important series against the Dodgers before the month’s end, which will likely play a critical role in determining the NL West champion. Leading into those contests, the Padres will host a three-game home series against the Boston Red Sox starting Friday at 6:40 p.m. PT.
The Wider Context and Future Outlook
This milestone involving Mason Miller’s fastest pitch taken deep sheds light on the high-stakes nature of MLB pitching battles and the razor-thin margins of success. Despite the historic homer allowed, Miller’s ability to quickly rebound and record his first save illustrates his resilience and value to the Padres’ bullpen.
With Miller anchored in the team’s future plans and their bullpen firing on all cylinders, San Diego looks well-positioned to challenge for the NL West crown and maintain strong momentum as the postseason approaches.