The Scoop with Luis Mey: Pairing Power and Precision

It’s tough to miss Luis Mey when he steps on the mound. At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, the 24-year-old reliever brings a commanding presence that draws eyes the moment he toes the rubber and grips a baseball. But the moment he fires, unleashing his blazing sinker toward the plate, it’s a different story.

Blink and you’ll miss it.

From the moment Mey arrived in Louisville, his explosive arsenal has been undeniable. When the righty made his Triple-A debut, tossing a 1-2-3 frame on 10 pitches — nine of which reached triple digits — that was evident. When he made his major league debut a month later and punched out the first batter he faced on a 99.2 mph sinker, his prolific power once again demanded attention.

“(He’s) just a big man who throws a very heavy sinker,” Bats pitching coach Reid Cornelius said, regarding his first impression of Mey. “I mean, it’s just really impressive stuff coming out of his hand.”

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Mey inked a minor league contract with the Reds back in 2018. After five years of progression in the Reds’ farm system, Mey’s hard work culminated in a spot on the Louisville Bats’ 2025 Opening Day roster.

Immediately, Mey unleashed his captivating firepower, turning heads right away by lighting up the radar gun. In his seventh Triple-A appearance, Mey’s sinker touched 103.2 mph freezing the batter for a called third strike. At that point in the season, only one pitch across Triple-A and MLB eclipsed that staggering speed.

Clearly, Mey’s standout skills caught Cincinnati’s attention. Ten outings with the Bats were enough for the Reds to make the call. With only a month of Triple-A experience under his belt, Mey received the news every player dreams of: he was big-league bound.

“They pranked me and said they were gonna send me down from Triple-A because I forgot my glove,” Mey said. “But then they were like, ‘Pack your things, get ready for tomorrow, you’re going to the big leagues.’ I was like ‘Are you mistaken or something?’ I was crying a little.”

Mey’s emotional reaction was understandable. Undoubtedly, his elite firepower was key to the call-up, but it took more than that to make it to the show. It took years of relentless determination, steadfast dedication and unwavering consistency to get there.

For the young reliever, disciplined habits and a structured routine paved his path to the big leagues. Pitchers often craft individualized gameday routines designed to prepare them both physically and mentally, aiming for peak performance each time they take the mound. Mey takes that very approach.

“I like to lift as soon as I get here,” Mey said. “After that I just go out, go practice, talk to the guys and stuff like that. From here I go upstairs and get some ice cream. Then I walk in [to the clubhouse], take a shower and get ready for the game.”

Lifting, practicing and chatting are common parts of most players’ regimens. Walking up to the concourse and grabbing a sweet treat in the midst of it all isn’t quite as typical. While unconventional to some, Mey has found a pregame routine that works for him. That’s the beauty of pregame routines, there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

“I get cookies and cream and chocolate every day,” Mey said. “It’s the same thing every day, it’s just so good, and it makes me relaxed. That’s my reset point of the day to get ready for the game.”

Amid the chaos of gamedays, Mey has found a way to click the reset button in the form of two scoops of ice cream. In turn, Mey readied himself for strong outings in Louisville, and eventually appearances in Cincinnati.

On May 1, Mey made his MLB debut for the Reds. From the very first batter he faced, he demonstrated the value he can contribute. Unleashing his explosive sinker, Mey recorded not only his first out, but also his first big league strikeout. The towering righty made 14 appearances with the Reds before returning to the Bats.

Mey bounced between Louisville and Cincinnati, rejoining the Reds for a game in June and again in August for eight more, logging 21 innings over 23 total appearances. Amid the back-and-forth shuffle, Mey laid a solid foundation for his future.

Just like in Louisville, Mey stuck to his tried-and-true routine with the Reds, using it to stay relaxed and ready — with one exception. At Great American Ball Park, players can’t exactly roam the concourse or stop by concession stands, so Mey had to skip his ice cream indulgence.

“I’m thinking of keeping [the tradition] up, but it’s hard because we don’t walk through the stands like I do here,” Mey said. “There, it’s a long walk.”

All season long, Mey flashed his pitching prowess through his sizzling sinker. As the season nears its end, Mey is beginning to sustain success by pairing his powerful abilities with refined command.

Mey was optioned to Louisville on August 23, able to reimplement his quick trip to the Philly’s Best ice cream stand and completing his gameday routine in its entirety. More notably, Mey has used his return to the Bats as an opportunity to start tackling areas that need improvement.

“The thing I’m missing right now is I can miss a little bit with the strike zone,” Mey said. “I’m just trying to pound the zone more. I have to just throw as hard as I can right down the middle and the outcome could be a hit, it could be a homer. But it’ll be mostly outs; swing and misses or groundballs.”

While Mey’s scorching sinker distinguishes him among other pitchers, honing his command remains a work in progress. With a firm grasp on how he can improve, Mey is already showing progress.

Since returning to the Bats in late August, Mey has appeared in 10 games, all of which the Bats have won. Racking up six saves, two wins, and a 1.69 ERA in that span, Mey is delivering some of his strongest outings of the season as he practices what he preaches.

Taking his own advice of throwing as hard as he can right down the middle, the vast majority of his matchups have resulted in outs. Of the 39 batters Mey has faced, 28 produced a groundout or strikeout while only seven at-bats resulted in hits. Backed by improved command, Mey has a 3.25 (13/4) strikeout-to-walk ratio over that stretch.

Mey’s strides on the mound haven’t just fueled his personal success. His progress has also helped the Bats thrive in their hottest stretch of the season.

Although the Bats’ season-long 11-game winning streak is over, Mey deserves credit for sparking the second longest winning streak in Louisville history. Mey’s 10 saves lead Louisville and rank second in the International League. Mey is showing as of late that with better control, his powerful arm can be more than a highlight-reel moment — it can be a weapon.

The elite velocity in Mey’s arsenal is a prized asset. Between 117 triple-digit pitches, recording the fastest pitch in the International League at 103.2 mph and claiming two of the Reds’ four fastest pitches, Mey has built an impressive resume in 2025 from his high-velocity ability.

If Mey devotes his offseason to dialing in his command, as he intends to, 2026 could be a standout season — whether that begins with his familiar ice cream ritual in Louisville, or with newly-forged habits in Cincinnati.