Lakeland, Fla. – Miguel Gonzalez caught Bruce Rondon in Toledo at the end of last season and he caught him again in the ninth inning Tuesday.
“He’s a much different guy now,” he said.
Rondon worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to preserve a 6-5 win over the Rays at Marchant Stadium. He struck out two and his fastball hit 100 twice and then 101 on the stadium radar gun, numbers Gonzalez confirmed afterward.
Triple-digit velocity isn't anything new or different for Rondon; how he was locating the pitches certainly was.
“His fastball command was great,” Gonzalez said.