Padres’ Mason Miller Sets Postseason Pitch Record at 104.5 mph

The San Diego Padres have already seen a dramatic return on their investment from the July trade deadline deal for fireballing reliever Mason Miller. In just two postseason games, Miller has thrown the fastest pitch ever recorded in playoff history and tied a strikeout record — instantly becoming a nightmare for opposing hitters.

Now, as the Padres head into a decisive Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs, the focus shifts from awe over Miller’s velocity to the very real challenge of bullpen fatigue.

Mason Miller’s Historic Performance

When the Padres traded top-five prospect Leo De Vries to Oakland for Mason Miller, the move raised some eyebrows around MLB. Midseason blockbuster deals for relievers are rare.

The Padres clearly believed they were betting on a game-changer, and in the 2025 postseason, Miller’s proved them right.

The Fastest Pitch in Postseason History

In Game 2 of the wild-card series, Miller unleashed a 104.5 mph fastball to strike out Cubs catcher Carson Kelly. Statcast confirmed that it was the fastest pitch recorded in postseason play since tracking began in 2008.

For context, Miller averaged an unreal 103 mph across 11 fastballs in that outing. He racked up five consecutive strikeouts, and Cubs hitters managed just four foul balls against him, whiffing six times on ten swings.

Dominance From Game 1 to Game 2

Miller’s Game 2 heroics came right after a flawless Game 1, when he struck out all three batters he faced. The streak carried into Game 2, resulting in eight consecutive strikeouts across the two games — tying Josh Hader’s postseason record for the longest strikeout run.

He’s given San Diego high-leverage outs without surrendering runs. That’s been both electric and efficient.

Padres Bullpen Excellence

Miller’s brilliance is part of a collective bullpen effort that’s dominated the 2025 season and postseason. The Padres entered October with MLB’s best bullpen ERA at 3.06.

In Game 2, they backed that up with 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. For a playoff team, that kind of reliability in relief is gold — but managing it over a full series? That’s the real trick.

The Trade That Made It Happen

The Padres’ July acquisition of Miller from the Oakland Athletics was bold for a few reasons:

• They gave up Leo De Vries, a top-five prospect in the farm system.
• They made a rare blockbuster reliever trade midseason.
• They banked on high-velocity dominance as an X-factor in October baseball.

San Diego’s front office clearly felt Miller’s elite fastball could tilt close games in their favor during the postseason.

Risk vs. Reward

Acquiring a reliever at that cost comes with downsides — most notably, the finite number of innings he can contribute before fatigue sets in. Unlike a starting pitcher, a high-octane reliever like Miller is susceptible to diminished velocity and command when overused in short succession.

Heading Into Game 3: The Fatigue Factor

San Diego’s biggest problem now isn’t whether Miller can overpower Cubs hitters — he clearly can — but whether he’ll be available in peak form for a third straight game.

Both Miller and Adrian Morejon have logged multiple innings in back-to-back games, which raises concerns about bullpen sharpness in the decisive clash.

Strategic Management

The Padres coaching staff has to weigh the benefits of deploying Miller again versus the potential risks:

• Making sure Miller’s velocity and command stay elite.
• Avoiding injury risk from consecutive multi-inning appearances.
• Maximizing bullpen depth to complement the ace reliever’s efforts.

Final Thoughts

Mason Miller’s arrival in San Diego has turned the Padres bullpen from impressive into something a bit more intimidating. That mix of wild velocity and strikeout power? It’s already earned him a spot in postseason history.

But honestly, the Padres’ October story isn’t just about the fastest pitch anyone’s ever seen. It’s going to come down to how they juggle their relief crew when every out starts to feel like life or death.

If Miller keeps throwing heat without burning out, maybe—just maybe—the Padres are about to go on a real playoff run. In the chaos of postseason baseball, sometimes one arm really does flip the script.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Padres relief ace Mason Miller throws fastest postseason pitch ever tracked: 104.5 mph