With the Giants down six runs in the ninth inning, they probably didn’t expect to see flame-throwing closer Jhoan Duran take the mound for the Twins. But Twins manager Rocco Baldelli opted to give Duran some work ahead of the off day.
That was bad news for the Giants because Duran was on another level on Wednesday.
Coming in with one out in the ninth inning, Duran — who was pitching for the first time since Saturday — set the tone right away with a 100 mph splitter that sharply dropped 28 inches against a swinging Blake Sabol. Like, pitches simply are not supposed to move like that.
Jhoan Duran's Obscene Stuff. 😳
-100.3mph Splinker with THAT movement.
-Fastball touching 104.6mph.
-90.2mph Curveball. pic.twitter.com/icOa1OoJ8o— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 24, 2023
Duran wasn’t done either.
Despite giving up a double to Wilmer Flores, Duran hit 103 mph seven times in the inning, including fastballs of 104.6 (shown 105 on the broadcast), 104.4 and 104 mph.
Jhoan Duran 104, 105, 104, 104 pic.twitter.com/qM0lKDH2IC
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 24, 2023
I don’t know what hitters are supposed to do with any of that except sit on a curveball and hope he actually throws one. No wonder MLB fans were impressed. That first-pitch splitter was especially unfair.
This was how Twitter reacted
https://t.co/lChZkeDy4s pic.twitter.com/vsfIK9EGSK
— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) May 24, 2023
How is that hittable https://t.co/STqNoGyYXP
— FormulaYankee #YankeesMightBeGood? (@FormulaYankee) May 24, 2023
Can’t believe he’s a Minnesota Twin
😭😭😭 https://t.co/m4SBICt7sw pic.twitter.com/huIQAPFvRN— Kev (@VikesFanKev) May 24, 2023
That first pitch. Just not possible to hit. Obscene https://t.co/LqmLFAz6vO
— Alby (P) (@AlbzSFC) May 24, 2023
might as well just close your eyes, swing and hope you get lucky https://t.co/QhiRM6lgjp
— David Whelan (@WhelanHealth) May 24, 2023
If I stepped to the plate and saw a 100 mph splitter I’m going back to the locker room. https://t.co/Cys6BDvymc
— Sosa 💰 (@pausesosa) May 24, 2023
“Hey man, you’re up.”
<shakes head>
“Nah. I’m comfortable here.” https://t.co/8PAYj5txrL— Tony "Preorder JUST STAY AWAY" Wirt (@Wirter) May 24, 2023
hitting a baseball is super easy you just keep your eye on the ball and swing the bat and you’ll make solid contact every time https://t.co/Zr2yPZMV2n
— fank (@dfank_BU) May 24, 2023
Batters just gotta laugh and jog back to the dugout https://t.co/zmOL91G8H9
— Netglow (@Netglow) May 24, 2023
That's absolutely ridiculous https://t.co/HlawqOrULy
— I'mNotAHRHitter (@ImNotAHRHitter) May 24, 2023
The only way to beat this is to avoid him all together https://t.co/wboi7KcDVn
— Shaq (@ShaqMitchell) May 24, 2023
He was legit built in a lab 😭😭😭 https://t.co/p4jAIsMpHp
— Eddie #BuiltByAFreakingSpreadsheet (@ECSportsMN) May 24, 2023
