Hiroshima Finds a Potential Savior as Freddy Tarnok Returns with a Blazing 158 km/h Fastball

The Hiroshima Carp may have found a much-needed weapon at exactly the right time.

Freddy Tarnok made his return to the first team on August 26 against the DeNA BayStars at Mazda Stadium, and the hard-throwing right-hander immediately made an impact.

Entering in the sixth inning with the game tied 1-1, Tarnok needed just eight pitches to retire three straight batters, including the heart of the DeNA lineup.

His fastball reached 158 km/h, while his powerful two-seam-style pitches made it extremely difficult for DeNA's hitters to make solid contact.

Tarnok opened the inning by getting Makoto Makishima to ground out to shortstop on his second pitch.

He then faced Yoshitomo Tsutsugo.

After getting ahead in the count, Tarnok unleashed a 158 km/h fastball that Tsutsugo could not catch up with, striking him out.

Tarnok then needed only two pitches to induce a ground ball from Encarnacion, ending the inning after just eight pitches.

It was an eye-catching performance from a pitcher whose season had taken a very different direction earlier in the year.

Tarnok joined Hiroshima this season and initially worked primarily as a starter. He appeared in nine games, including eight starts, but struggled to find consistency, going 0-4 with a 4.01 ERA.

After his last first-team appearance on June 27 against the Hanshin Tigers, he was sent to the farm team to make adjustments.

There, however, Tarnok began developing a new weapon.

Working as a reliever, he was able to unleash his fastball more aggressively, with his one-seam/two-seam-style pitch reportedly reaching 159 km/h.

That experience appears to have transformed him.

After being officially registered on August 25, Tarnok immediately produced one of the most impressive relief appearances of his season.

Fans were quick to react.

Some compared his overpowering stuff to former Hiroshima closer Dennis Sarfate, while others called for Tarnok to remain in the bullpen or even take over the closer role.

The most intriguing aspect may be the movement on his fastball.

Rather than simply relying on a straight, high-velocity four-seam fastball, Tarnok's pitch has significant two-seam-like movement, making it particularly difficult for hitters to square up.

For a Hiroshima team desperately searching for pitching depth, this could be a major development.

The Carp remain in sixth place in the Central League, but their deficit to third-place DeNA has narrowed to just 1.5 games.

That makes the timing of Tarnok's resurgence particularly important.

If he can consistently reproduce the combination of 158–159 km/h velocity, movement and aggressive pitching he showed against DeNA, Hiroshima could suddenly have a completely different weapon in the second half of the season.

The Carp have been searching for a spark all year.

They may have just found one throwing nearly 160 km/h.