SCOTTSDALE — Javier Lopez likes to joke that part of his success these days comes from throwing his lower-velocity repertoire at hitters who are used to seeing relievers sitting in the upper 90s. It seemed someone on the coaching staff was trolling Lopez when pitchers took the mound for the first time and the lefty found himself a few feet over from Ray Black, the prospect who might be the hardest-throwing right-hander in baseball.
“It was impressive to listen to,” Lopez said Friday. “He was probably only throwing 95. He’ll get there. It’s only mid February.”
“There” is a radar gun reading that's made Black a well-known name in the Scottsdale Stadium clubhouse despite the fact that he has never thrown a Cactus League pitch for the Giants, or pitched in a game above A-ball.