Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez struck out 11 batters in seven innings in his start against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Yet, throwing a 96-mph fastball doesn't fully satisfy his need for speed.
The Cuban-born right-hander found an affinity for cycling after the 2013 season and continuously enjoys trying to improve his pace on the road.
"It was really a challenge to do it," he conceded. "When I started, I tried to keep up with a group going 18 mph. Now I follow the group that goes 25."
Fernandez, who threw a career-high 117 pitches over his seven innings on Sunday night, has a personal best on his bike of 120 miles over eight hours.
"It's like pitching," he said of cycling. "You don't know who is ready and who is not. You've got to be on point."
Following his baseball career, Fernandez would love to ride competitively.
"To me, cycling is a great sport. I have a lot of respect for it," said Fernandez, who had considered a possible career as a lawyer before making it as a baseball player.
In 2013, the same year he began cycling, he made the NL All-Star team as a 20-year-old.
Another career highlight for Fernandez was homering in his first at-bat upon returning from Tommy John surgery in 2015.
It was just like riding a bike.
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He was selected by the Marlins 14^th overall in the 2011 draft.