PADRE POWER

On April 11, Andrew Cashner, the 6' 6" 225 lb pitcher of  the San Diego Padres threw the first complete game of the 2014 MLB season holding the Detroit Tigers to 1 hit, 2 base on balls and 11 strikeouts on 108 pitches.  Cashner was so good manager Bud Black was forced to keep him in and give the bullpen a good rest. Cashner's fastball sat comfortably around 94-95 mph topping out at 99.7.  The last half of 2013 the 27 year old RHP pitched for a 2.14 ERA in 75 IP and started to establish himself as one of the NL's best.  He finished with 26 starts, 175 IP, 10 wins 9 losses, a solid 3.09 ERA  and a 2.4 WAR.  Andrew Cashner is a name to remember. 

Andrew Cashner vs Cubs at Petco 2013   (fansided.com)

Signed by the Chicago Cubs in 2008 he was a starting pitcher in the minor leagues arriving in Chicago in 2010 where he was used in relief in 2010 and 2011 with 60 appearances and only 1 start showing great stuff  but limited repertoire and success.  Traded on January 6, 2012, to the Padres for Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs first baseman, he continued mostly in relief but did start 5 games subbing for injured starters.  After 5 relief games in 2013, the light bulb went on for Bud Black and he started the conversion of Cashner into a full time starting pitcher. Despite a slow start he really picked up steam and finished very strong.  Always a hard thrower, regularly touching and passing 100 mph in relief, Cashner started throwing the two seamer (sinker) to go along with the fireballing four seamer, slider and occasional curve and change. The fastball is still his bread and butter pitch but now with more movement.  The transition seems almost complete and when pitching at Petco it's very difficult to beat him.  He won his first arbitration hearing this year with a 2.4 million reward and won't be a free agent until 2017.

Justin Upton vs Rockies    (fancloud.com)

POWER STATS

Two of the longest home runs this early season have been hit by the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton with Justin Upton of the Braves providing the top three "bombs"  
Name                        Date            FT      Place
Giancarlo Stanton     April 4       484     Marlins Park
Justin Upton             April  10     477     Turner Field
Giancarlo Stanton     April 12     469     Citizens Bank

Stanton's 484 foot blast came off the bat at 118.8 mph, the fastest batted ball speed this year.

Giancarlo Stanton vs Cubs   (zimbio.com)

On April 8, 22 year old, Yordano Ventura of the Kansas City   Royals was clocked at 102.9 mph becoming the fastest pitch recorded by Pitch FX for a starting pitcher in a regular season game surpassing the 102.8 he recorded last September.  Ventura is 5'11" tall and weighs around 180 lbs.  

Yordano Ventura   (cnnsi.com)

Stats courtesy of Fangraphs, Brooks Baseball and Espn.