rewrite this title Phillies closer Jhoan Duran sets record in second team appearance

It took less than a week for Jhoan Duran to etch his name into the Phillies’ record books.

The flamethrowing closer has made just two appearances for Philadelphia since he was dealt from the Twins ahead of last week’s trade deadline, but he’s already unleashed the fastest pitch in Citizens Bank Park history. 

The record-setting toss was a 103.3 mph fastball, which Duran pitched to Tigers All-Star Riley Greene in the ninth inning of the Phillies’ 2-0 win over Detroit Sunday night. 

The pitch was fouled off, but Duran struck out Greene to end the game on the following toss, a 102.5 mph heater that set a record as the Phillies’ fastest game-ending strikeout since the pitch tracking era began in 2008, according to MLB’s Sarah Langs.

In the same at-bat against Greene, Duran also threw a 102.7 mph fastball.

After the game, Phillies manager Rob Thomson deadpanned of the record-setting pitch to the Philadelphia Inquirer: “That’s pretty good.”

Philadelphia acquired Duran last Wednesday in exchange for two of their top prospects, Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait. 

Widely considered one of the best closers in baseball, Duran has a 1.93 ERA with 54 strikeouts this season across 51 1/3 innings. 

He was also known for having one of the most electric bullpen entrances in baseball during his time in Minnesota, with fans turning their phone flashlights on en masse to welcome Duran to the field as Farruko’s “El Incomprendido” (mixed with Pitbull and Daddy Yankee’s “Hot”) blared through the speakers. 

That entrance was immediately adopted by the Phillies, to the elation of fans.

The Dominican Republic native broke into the majors with Minnesota in 2022, and has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in three of his four MLB seasons. 

He cannot claim the fastest pitch thrown in the big leagues this year, though – the Padres’ Mason Miller owns that title after pitching a 104.1 mph fastball when with the Athletics.