If you thought that only pitchers were capable of surpassing the 100-mph barrier on throws, you were wrong.
Infielder Elly De La Cruz has flirted with that barrier, topping out at 99.8 mph from shortstop.
However, outfielders often boast some of the most impressive arm strength in baseball.
This is the case of the Colorado Rockies‘ Nolan Jones.
A third baseman coming up through the minors in the Cleveland Guardians organization, he has been playing mostly outfielder since 2022.
He is well-equipped for the position because of his amazing throwing arm.
This week, he completed a 102.7-mph outfield assist, the fastest in five years according to a graphic made by MLB Stats.
We suggest that you don’t run on Nolan Jones. 🤯
102.7 mph!
That’s like an Aroldis Chapman fastball.
Jones’ assist was the fastest since 2018, when Jackie Bradley Jr., then on the Boston Red Sox, uncorked an unbelievable 103.4-mph one.
Jones’ arm is something to behold, but the most impressive breakout he is currently enjoying is happening in the batter’s box.
He was decent, but not quite good with the Guardians in 2022, with a 95 wRC+ (100 means league-average performance).
Once he landed in Colorado, he took off.
After a 182 wRC+ in Triple-A, he has posted an equally impressive .280/.360/.513 line with 15 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a 119 wRC+ with the big league club.
Strikeouts will always be a problem with Jones (he has 109 in just 339 plate appearances), but as long as he can keep hitting for a decent average, showing the kind of power he has in 2023, getting a few steals and rocking that extraordinary arm in the outfield, he will be a useful player for Colorado.