"I've never seen a fastball like that. That's the fastest fastball I've ever faced" - Mets star JD Martinez on the challenge of facing Ben Joyce
The Los Angeles Angels defeated the New York Mets 5-4 at Angel Stadium on Saturday night, with Angels righty ace Ben Joyce bamboozling Mets star JD Martinez with his pitching. Joyce threw the fastest ball of the MLB season at 104.7 mph, which struck out Martinez for the final strike.
Martinez, a seven-time All-Star and a World Series champion, is an impressive hitter known for his calmness under pressure. In the postgame interview, Martinez shared his experience with Joyce’s fastballs.
“I’ve never seen a fastball like that. That’s the fastest fastball I’ve ever faced,” JD Martinez said. “Dude, I laughed after he struck me out. I was smiling and looking at the radar and that was different. Kudos to him, man, he throws hard and throws right at you.
"There is a respect for him after that. It was hard. I never looked at the radar until after that one because it got on me so quick.”
His admiration for Joyce was evident, as he acknowledged the young pitcher's talent and fearlessness. It also highlighted the raw power of Joyce's fastball.
Ben Joyce’s fastball reaching 104.57 mph has stunned seasoned players like Martinez. This underscores his status as one of the most electrifying pitchers in the league. Joyce’s ability to deliver such high-velocity pitches consistently is a key factor in his success and the difficulty he poses to hitters.
Ben Joyce unleashes MLB’s fastest pitch in Angels' thrilling win
On Saturday night, Ben Joyce hit a fastball that was the fastest pitch thrown in the 2024 MLB season as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the New York Mets. The right-hander's blazing 104.7 mph fastball capped off a stellar performance, securing his first big league save and striking out Mets star JD Martinez.
Joyce, who retired all four hitters he faced in 1⅓ innings, set a new record for the hardest pitch thrown to strike out a batter since the pitch-tracking era began in 2008.
Ben Joyce has not allowed an earned run in 23 innings pitched since mid-June. Meanwhile, Zach Neto’s seventh-inning go-ahead home run helped the Angels, ending their three-game losing streak.