Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/804369
12 PLAY BALL BAY AREA NEWS GROUP GI ANT S Me lv in Ad on Fastball:100mph OpeningDayage: 22 Throws: Right Height: 6-3 Weight: 195 2016highlights: 5.48 ERA in 67.1 IP, with 55 K and 34 walks for short- season Northwest League. Scoutingreport: Being developed as a starter but remains a work in progress. One scout told Josh Norris of Baseball America: "He's got crazy velocity, but he's all over the place." Also throws a sharp slider. GIANTS Ray Black Fastball: 104 mph* OpeningDayage: 26 Throws: Right Height: 6-5 Weight: 225 2016highlights: 4.88 ERA in 31.1 innings, with 53 strikeouts and 32 walks for Double-A Richmond. Scoutingreport: With a pitch deemed the "most explosive fastball in the minors" by MLB.com, Black has been tearing through the lower minors. Over a 1-2-3 inning in the Fall Stars game last season, his velocity readings looked like this: 99, 98, 100, 99, 100, 101, 84, 99. GIANTS Reyes Moronta Fastball:100 mph OpeningDayage: 24 Throws:Right Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 2016highlights: 2.59 ERA in 59.0 innings with 93 strikeouts and 20 walks for San Jose Scoutingreport:2080baseball.com: "Explodes out of hand,jumping on hitters extremely quickly.Can have late arm-side bore.Inconsistent release point and has trouble locating to glove side of the plate; mainly middle in." GIANTS Rodolfo Martinez Fastball:103 mph OpeningDayage:22 Throws: Right Height: 6-2 Weight: 180 2016highlights:0.88 ERA with 30.2 IP, 33 strikeouts, 10 walks at San Jose. Scoutingreport:Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, when he was 19, the hard-thrower racked up 24 saves last season (21 at San Jose). Besides mph, his heater has movement. "I don't think he's ever quite sure what it's going to do," San Jose pitching coach Mike Couchee told MiLB.com. "It sinks. It cuts occasionally." THE LEAGUE BayAreaflamethrowers A'sright-handerFrankieMontasthrowsmorethan100mph,butyou'dneverknowthatbywatchinghisdelivery."Itlooksniceandeasy,like he's just playing catch,'' manager Bob Melvin said. "And the ball is screaming in there." Montas is part of a new wave of flamethrowers on the Bay Area horizon. Here are other names for your radar (guns). Mph readings are from Baseball America unless otherwise noted.—DanielBrowm A'S Frankie Montas Fastball:102 mph OpeningDayage: 24 Throws:Right Height: 6-2 Weight: 255 2016highlights: Missed most of the season with a rib-cage injury but looked impressive when healthy. Had a 2.38 ERA with 15 strikeouts and two walks in 11.1 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Scoutingreport:Rated the A's No. 5 prospect by Baseball America following the 2016 season. The A's view Montas as a starter, but he's open to anything. "I'd like to do what I can to make the roster,'' he said. A'S Bobby Wahl Fastball:100 mph OpeningDayage: 25 Throws: Right Height:6-4 Weight: 233 2016highlights: Pitched at three different levels in the A's farm system last year and was a combined 1-1 with 14 saves, a 2.65 ERA and a .194 opponents batting average against. Scoutingreport: Looks poised to make a contribution at the big league level in 2017 a er posting a 1.18 WHIP and 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings last season. *Giantsmediaguide DUANE BURLESON /GETTY IMAGES; OPPOSITE: GREG FIUME/GETTY IMAGES FrankieMontaspitchesfortheChicagoWhiteSoxin2015.