Julian Fernandez sat in the Rockies dugout at Coors Field talking fastballs.
In his major-league debut last Sunday, the 6-foot-7, 235-pound right-hander blew away Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson with a 102.4 mile per hour third-strike fastball. Fernandez’s heater tied for the fourth-fastest pitch in the National League this season, according to StatCast. It also was the highest velocity by a Rockies pitcher in the StatCast era (since 2015).
Fernandez said he can throw harder.
“I have thrown 105 in games before,” he said, remembering moments when he let it fly in short-season Class A-ball with Boise in 2016 and with Low-A Asheville in 2017.