The Arizona Fall League has been in action and one National has stood tall. That is, Jarlin Susana. The Nationals' No. 4 prospect is cited as throwing absolute heat, easily reaching 100 mph with his fastball. This is pleasant to see, as in 2025, Seaver King lit up the same league, and his following minor league season went on to be a fantastic one.
What is the Arizona Fall League?
The AFL gives prospects an opportunity to get more playing time after the minor league season. Six teams in total, with select players from around MiLB. Especially in Susana's case, more repetitions can help if a player coming off an injury needs more time on the field.
Susana tore his lat muscle in 2025, which sidelined him for nearly an entire calendar year. Susana didn't return to minor league baseball until August. He played only 8 games in 2026, but did impress during the Triple-A Championship game as he flashed some impressive velocity.
Talent is certainly lower in the AFL, but any playing time is good. Susana is the only top-100 pitching prospect in the entire league this fall. His stats also prove that he is no charity case.
Jarlin Susana Throws Heat!
Per MLB.com, Susana has thrown the 34 fastest pitches in the AFL this season. He topped out at 103.8 mph on his fastball. All five of Susana's fastest pitches have been harder than 103.0 mph.
If Susana had pitched at that speed during the 2026 MLB season, his 103.8 miles-per-hour fastball would have ranked among the 40th-fastest this year. More specifically, he would have been the 5th hardest-throwing pitcher in MLB.
Of those top-40 pitches thrown, all came from Jacob Misiorowski, Ben Joyce, Edgardo Henriquez, and Mason Miller.
The nuttiest part of this whole thing is that Susana's scouting report does not even consider his fastball his best pitch. On the 20-80 scouting scale, his fastball is rated 60/65, while his slider, his best pitch, is rated as a 70/80.
It measures a player's current pitch rating and his ceiling, which tops out at 80. Fangraphs believes that Susana could have one of the best sliders in baseball, while his fastball may just top out at 65. That suggests that while he has speed, Susana may lack command.
Nonetheless, the Nationals have a star brewing down there in Arizona. Susana is scheduled to make his MLB debut in 2027. He has a legitimate chance of making the Opening Day roster. Do you expect Susana to make it? Let us know on X — @DistrictonDeck.
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