While fastball usage across the major leagues and all of professional baseball continues to decline, the value of a great fastball may be higher than ever.
The ability to consistently generate whiffs with the fastball is a foundational trait for both starting pitchers and relievers. With that in mind, today we’ll be looking at some of the top-performing fastballs in the minor leagues this season with the goal of identifying the very best in bat-missing ability and command.
Below, you’ll find 10 pitchers with standout heaters, each having thrown a four-seam fastball sample of 500 or more pitches in front of ball-tracking devices. To earn inclusion, these players also needed to have a strike rate and in-zone rate above the minor league average.
Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox
- Strike Rate: 70.7%
- In-Zone Rate:61.5%
- Whiff Rate:43.1%
To anyone who’s watched Tolle’s first two major league starts, you’ll be well aware of his fastball quality. Prior to his MLB debut, Tolle dominated the minors with a four-seamer that sits at 94-96 mph and generates 17 inches of ride from a lower release height that creates a flat plane of approach (-4.55 degrees).
Tolle’s outlier extension of seven and a half feet creates deception and outlier characteristics that drive his eye-popping results.
Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets
- Strike Rate:63.9%
- In-Zone Rate:54.2%
- Whiff Rate:35.6%
In what has been a dream season for Tong, he went from outside the Top 100 Prospects to being one of the top young pitchers in the game. While much has been written about Tong’s improved changeup, it’s the fastball that remains his bread-and-butter offering.
Tong creates outlier extension for his smaller frame to go with mid-90s velocity and plus ride. While his command is only average, Tong’s combination of ride, cut and above-average extension create needed deception.
Eric Loomis, RHP, Rangers
- Strike Rate: 68.3%
- In-Zone Rate: 61%
- Whiff Rate:39.3%
A 16th-round draft pick out of Missouri State in 2024, Loomis has exceeded expectations in his first full professional season. A relief-only prospect, the 23-year-old has pitched his way to Double-A on the quality of his fastball.
As a low-slot righthander, Loomis doesn’t blow his fastball by hitters with upper-90s velocity. Instead, his unusual arm angle, heavy armside run and flat plane of approach combine to generate a level of deception that overwhelms opposing hitters.
Ryan Lambert, RHP, Mets
- Strike Rate: 66.5%
- In-Zone Rate: 50.1%
- Whiff Rate:39.2%
Another relief-only prospect from the 2024 draft class, Lambert was an eighth-rounder out of Oklahoma. Lambert’s fastball stands out even among his peers, as his 96.8 mph average fastball velocity, 20 inches of induced vertical break and average spin rate of 2,691 rpm each represent the highest marks listed here.
These outlier characteristics allow his fastball to play up despite fringy command and below-average extension. The result is that Lambert is a fire-breathing righthanded reliever with a demon fastball.
Saul Garcia, RHP, Mets
- Strike Rate:64.9%
- In-Zone Rate:55%
- Whiff Rate: 39.1%
A 2021 international signee out of Venezuela, Garcia established himself this season as a developing reliever. After struggling to a 5+ ERA in consecutive seasons, he posted a 1.79 ERA over his first 37 appearances in 2025.
Pitching from a lower release height, Garcia sits 94-96 mph with more than 2500 rpm of spin on average. His low three-quarter arm slot creates a flat plane of approach, which in turn translates to lots of in-zone whiff. He generates outlier extension from his smaller frame, missing bats with a heavy side-spinning fastball.
Zach Franklin, RHP, White Sox
- Strike Rate: 67.1%
- In-Zone Rate: 56.3%
- Whiff Rate:38.5%
Franklin was drafted in the 10th round in 2023 out of Missouri and signed for just $10,000. Despite that lack of pedigree, he has been one of the best relief prospects in the White Sox system over the past two seasons.
In 2025, Franklin has pushed his way to Triple-A Charlotte on the back of his plus fastball. He sits 93-95 mph with higher spin rates generating 18+ inches of ride and a flatter plane of approach. In addition to plus movement and release traits, Franklin commands his fastball at a level well above-average, driving consistent results.
Aidan Foeller, RHP, Dodgers
- Strike Rate: 62.2%
- In-Zone Rate: 49.4%
- Whiff Rate:37.8%
Foeller, an 11th-rounder out of Southern Illinois last year, is the latest in low-cost, high-upside arms lurking in the Dodgers’ system. While his command is a tick below others included in this article, Foeller’s results speak for themselves.
As a starter across both levels of A-ball, Foeller has struggled to consistently throw strikes, but that wildness has also come with supreme bat-missing abilities. He sits at 93-95 mph but generates nearly seven feet of extension with more than 19 inches of induced vertical break on average and a flatter plane of approach. Improved command for Foeller could result in a major breakout season in 2026.
Tyler Uberstine, RHP, Red Sox
- Strike Rate: 69.7%
- In-Zone Rate: 55%
- Whiff Rate: 36.1%
One of the most inspiring stories in the game at the moment, Uberstine has gone from being an overlooked 19th-round pick to finding himself on the cusp of the majors.
Looking beyond his interesting backstory, we see that Uberstine has dominated with his four-seam fastball this season. He generates deception with a low arm slot that creates outlier fastball plane. In terms of pure metrics, Uberstine’s fastball is fairly pedestrian, but his ability to create one of the flattest planes of approach in the minors drives serious results.
Luis De La Torre, LHP, Giants
- Strike Rate: 67.6%
- In-Zone Rate: 54.5%
- Whiff Rate: 35.8%
An undrafted free agent in 2023, De La Torre has been one of the best pitchers in a Giants system on the upswing in 2025. Despite being undersized, he dominated the Arizona Complex League before taking his show on the road to the Low-A Cal League where his excellent results have continued post-promotion.
His fastball sits just 93-95 mph with average movement, but his lower release height and outlier extension for his size have created quite a bit of useful deception in what has been a true breakout season for De La Torre.
Hayden Mullins, LHP, Red Sox
- Strike Rate: 62.4%
- In-Zone Rate:53.7%
- Whiff Rate: 35.6%
After the phenomenal MLB debuts of Tolle and Connelly Early, many around the game are wondering if the Red Sox are growing deceptive lefthanders in a lab. The next Boston lefty with deceptive characteristics likely to debut over the next year is Mullins.
Though he features only average velocity, Mullins’ outlier extension creates a low release height and flat plane of approach that drive whiffs against his plus fastball. He lacks the power of Tolle or the plus secondaries of Early, but still finds success with deception and command in his own way.
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
