In a jaw-dropping display of raw power, Boston Red Sox top pitching prospect Luis Perales lit up the Arizona Fall League (AFL) with a blistering 101.1 mph fastball on Tuesday, leaving fans and scouts buzzing with excitement. The 22-year-old right-hander, who started for the Salt River Rafters in their 7-3 win over the Glendale Desert Dogs, showcased the kind of electric arm that has the baseball world taking notice.
Perales, who recorded four outs in the game, didn’t just stop at one triple-digit pitch. He unleashed a trio of heaters, clocking 101.1 mph, 100.2 mph, and 100 mph, proving his velocity is no fluke. While his command wavered—issuing three walks and landing only 52% of his pitches for strikes—the sheer firepower of his fastball stole the show. This was only his fourth outing of 2025, a testament to his resilience after missing nearly the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on June 27, 2024.
Making his return on September 13, Perales had already shown flashes of brilliance in three appearances split between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. In those outings, he surrendered just two runs, no hits, and three walks while striking out four. Tuesday’s performance in the AFL only added to the hype surrounding the young fireballer, who remains a member of Boston’s 40-man roster but has yet to make his MLB debut.
Despite his elite potential, Perales’ journey hasn’t been without challenges. Entering 2025 as Boston’s No. 1 pitching prospect, he now sits at No. 8 overall in the Red Sox system according to Baseball America, trailing fellow pitching prospects Payton Tolle, Kyson Witherspoon, Connelly Early, and Brandon Clarke. Yet, with a fastball that can touch triple digits, Perales is proving he’s far from done climbing the ranks.
Also taking the mound for Salt River on Tuesday was another Red Sox prospect, Brandon Neely, a 2024 third-round pick out of Florida. Neely tossed three innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits with no walks and one strikeout. While his outing was solid, it was Perales’ radar-gun-shattering performance that had everyone talking.