LAS VEGAS -- The forecast called for a high of 98, but the meteorologists didn’t factor in Jarlin Susana taking the mound.
MLB’s No. 65 overall prospect dialed his fastball up to 104 mph across two scoreless frames for Rochester, the Nationals' affiliate that fell 5-3 to Oklahoma City (Dodgers) in the Triple-A National Championship on Saturday at Las Vegas Ballpark.
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Susana’s first pitch was his fastest at 104 -- only Dodgers reliever Edgardo Henriquez has thrown faster (104.3 mph, 2025) in the regular or postseason since Statcast came to Triple-A (2022 for Pacific Coast League, 2023 for International League). The Nationals’ No. 3 prospect put his 70-grade fastball on full display by throwing all 17 of his heaters at 101.5 mph or faster.
With his four-seamer averaging 102.8, Susana also worked in a plus-plus slider which led to his best called strike + whiff rate (60 percent) and accounted for four of his five whiffs.
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The 22-year-old right-hander registered a strikeout on a 102.3 mph heater and worked around a hit for a pair of scoreless innings. The outing marked his first relief appearance since July 5, 2022, during his debut season in Rookie ball, and just his second Triple-A outing after making a start for the Red Wings on Sept. 18.
The Padres signed Susana in January 2022 out of the Dominican Republic, then traded him seven months later as part of the Juan Soto blockbuster with the Nationals. After surgery to repair a torn right lat delayed his 2026 season debut until August, Susana posted a 6.20 ERA and a 2.80 FIP with 37 strikeouts against 11 walks in 20 1/3 innings across eight starts between High-A Wilmington, Double-A Harrisburg and Rochester.
He is set to continue his season in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters, beginning on Oct. 3.