Let Us All Marvel At Andrés Blanco’s 70 MPH Fastballs

The Phillies, already the worst team in baseball so far this year, trailed 12-0 in the bottom of the eighth last night. So why not bring in an infielder to pitch? Utility man Andrés Blanco toed the rubber for the first time in the majors.

He threw eight fastballs, all in the low 70s and high 60s. They were so slow MLB Gameday marked them as knuckleballs, but Blanco said postgame he was indeed throwing fastballs. Matt Adams hit his fifth pitch into the seats for a two-run homer. You’ll see that Blanco had a pretty nice “pitcher reacts to home run” stance.

Blanco joked about his performance with reporters afterward. “What was I throwing? 72?” Blanco asked. He then kissed his bicep. “Still alive, baby. Five more years.”

After giving up the homer, Blanco was able to get Tyler Flowers to pop out to shallow right field to record his first-ever out as a major leaguer. Blanco has played every position in the majors except center field and catcher.