Red Sox Pitcher Richard Fitts Sets Lofty Goal For Himself

Boston Red Sox pitcher Richard Fitts is yet to earn his first career win. He’s pitched in 11 games over the last two seasons and is 0-4 with a 3.33 ERA. Despite his solid contributions, the Red Sox are 1-10 in those games. The only win came on Wednesday, a day after Fitts started, due to a suspension after three innings.

Fitts has more than just recording a win on his mind, though. In the second inning of his start Tuesday, Fitts threw the hardest pitch of his career at 98.9 mph. He hit that mark twice in the inning.

According to Tim Healy of the Boston Globe, when Fitts saw the radar gun read 99 mph, he had his sights set on triple digits.

“It pops up on the board as 99, and I was like, ‘Man, maybe I’ll just throw a little harder on this one and see if I can do it,’” Fitts told Healy.

The newfound velocity came seemingly out of nowhere. In his four outings before going on the injured list with a pectoral injury, his fastball averaged 95 mph. In his two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Worcester, his average rose to 96.8 mph. The slowest four-seam he threw over those two starts was 94.4 mph.

It’s difficult to say if that will hold over an entire outing, though. In his first start back, Fitts only threw four innings in part due to a laborious first frame. On Tuesday, his outing ended after three innings due to rain.

Despite his goal, overall performance is more important to Fitts than velocity.

“Ultimately, I’m just trying to get outs,” he told Healy.

His next turn in the rotation is scheduled for Monday against the Colorado Rockies.