VIERA, Fla. -- The days of Bobby Parnell throwing 100 mph out of the New York Mets' bullpen are not necessarily over, Dan Warthen predicted Thursday.
"I wouldn't say that," the pitching coach said.
Parnell averaged a career-high 97.2 mph with his fastball in 2011.
While triple-figures velocity continued to be available to him as recently as two years ago when he needed it for a strikeout, Parnell chose to dial things back slightly to maximize his control. Parnell averaged 95.0 mph with his fastball in 2013.
In a Triple-A appearance Wednesday as he works back from Tommy John surgery, Parnell sat at 87-91 mph with his fastball.
Still, Warthen said: "It's where it should be."
Warthen suggested Parnell's velocity will be more normal in a week to 10 days, when he gets more games under his belt and builds up arm strength. The coach added that pitchers typically pick up a couple of miles per hour on their fastball from adrenaline once they get into a major league stadium and with regular-season games at stake.
