When moving from a starter to a relief role, many pitchers experience spikes in pitch velocity. Few pitchers keep adding velocity like Cincinnati Reds right-hander Raisel Iglesais.
In April, Iglesias averaged 96.4 mph on his four-seam fastball, according to BrooksBaseball.net. In June, it had jumped to 97.2. In his first outing of July, on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, his fastball averaged 98.7 mph.
Comparisons from one year to another are difficult, since Major League Baseball changed its tracking system at the beginning of this season. But Iglesias’ velocity has undeniably been rising as the 2017 season has progressed.