Massive Red Sox Prospect Makes Jaws Drop With Rare Spring Training Feat originally appeared on NESN.
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Boston Red Sox outfield prospect Justin Gonzales recently compared himself to New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge.

The 6-foot-6 teenager looked a bit like the three-time AL MVP in the ninth inning of the Red Sox’s 7-6 Spring Training win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday when he smoked a single to left field at 117.3 miles per hour.

Alex Speier of The Boston Globe noted just how rare Gonzales’ hit was.

“Justin Gonzales hit a ball in today’s spring training game at 117.3 mph for a single. It is the second-hardest hit ball by anyone in a spring training game this year (Jac Caglianone hit a 120 mph bolt in Royals camp). Since Statcast came about in 2015, just three Red Sox – Franchy (2x), Duran … … and Hanley – have hit balls 117+ mph. As the inclusion of Cordero on that list suggests, hitting a ball hard is no guarantee of success. But, Gonzales’s ability to hit rockets, limit strikeouts, and be staggeringly large is enormously fascinating,” Speier posted on Bluesky.

MLB Pipeline reporter Sam Dykstra posted video of the knock.

“Here’s a 117.3 mph single from Red Sox prospect Justin Gonzales,” Dykstra wrote on Bluesky. “Gonzales turned 19 this offseason.”

The 19-year-old debuted with an impressive .320/.391/.517 triple slash in the Dominican Summer League in 2024 and posted a strong .281/.363/.390 slash line between the Florida Complex League, Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville in 2025.

Gonzales finished Monday’s victory 1-for-2.

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