A 16-year-old baseball star has left fans stunned after throwing a 100mph fastball for the very first time in his career.
Striker Pence took to the mound on Thursday afternoon for the Area Code Baseball Games, which is a six-day showcase of the top players from across the country.
The teenager had previously caught attention when his fastball was clocked at 97mph earlier in the year but he blew that out the water with his showing in Long Beach.
Footage emerged of Pence – who is a freshman at Santiago High School – launching a 100mph fastball at the event, before doing so six more times in a row.
Clips of Pence’s impressive fastball swiftly went viral but, despite this, the teenager played it cool when he was interviewed about the milestone after the game.
Pence was asked how long he’d been working towards the achievement, to which he said: ‘My whole life honestly.
16-year-old Striker Pence threw a 100mph fastball at the Area Code Baseball Games
The Santiago High School freshman reflected on the milestone in an interview afterwards
‘Everyday, just staying consistent in the weight room, working out. I’ve been playing since I was six-years-old. I feel like it’s earned. Well deserved.
‘When I was about 12 or 13, I was always the little guy that threw hard. And then at 14/15, I grew and when I grew I started getting stronger. I haven’t slowed down’.
The 6 foot 6 inch teenager – who weighs in at 200lbs – is the nephew of former MLB All-Star Hunter Pence, however that’s not who he attributes his success to.
Instead, Pence said: ‘Probably my dad, making sure I’m consistent, keeping me honest and giving everything I have’.
The RHP is unsurprisingly ranked as one of the top prospects in the class of 2028 after his impressive displays at the mound in recent months.
Fans were left in awe of Pence’s 100mph fastballs and quickly took to X to share their reaction – as well as offering advice to the teenager.
The RHP is unsurprisingly ranked as one of the top prospects in the class of 2028
Fans swiftly took to social media to share their reaction to the stunning footage
One user who was stunned at the footage, as he simply wrote: ‘Dude whaaat’
Another said: ‘Don’t ruin his arm… limit the # of games’.
Another jokingly wrote: ‘He hit my son with a fastball this summer and he lived to talk about it [laughing emoji].
Finally, one user said: ‘The pitching renaissance the next 5-10 years is gonna be unprecedented’.
