Reds superstar uncorks one of the fastest throws in MLB history to nail runner at home in epic relay
Every once in a while, a professional athlete will do something so absurd on the field that people will question if the athlete is from this world. Cincinnati Reds superstar Elly De La Cruz is now the center of that conversation.
During the Reds’ 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, De La Cruz uncorked one of the fastest throws in MLB history during an epic relay.
In the bottom of the third inning, Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández laced a line drive to center field off Reds starter Nick Lodolo. Reds center fielder Dane Myers came sprinting in to try to make a diving catch in front of him, but couldn’t get there in time and missed the ball completely.
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As the ball bounced all the way to the wall, Hernández turned on the jets as he steamed around the bases in hopes of hitting an inside-the-park home run. Reds left fielder JJ Bleday eventually picked up the ball as Hernández was rounding third base and fired to De La Cruz, who was positioned in shallow center field for the relay throw.
De La Cruz caught Bleday’s toss and fired a 105.3 mph strike to home plate. Reds catcher Jose Trevino fielded the throw and slid over to tag Hernández and record the out at home.
De La Cruz’s remarkable display of arm strength left his manager and teammates in awe.
"That was one of the better throws you'll ever see, I mean, ever," Reds manager Terry Francona said, according to MLB.com. "I know I turn on the old things and you see Dave Parker or somebody making throws or Clemente; they might be showing that one (now)."
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"Every time he throws a ball, it's an absolute rocket," starting pitcher Nick Lodolo said, according to MLB.com. "It was a great throw, and it was a great pick by (Trevino) to stay with that and make the tag. A lot of credit to both guys there."
De La Cruz’s throw was the second-fastest throw resulting in an outfield assist since Statcast began tracking throws in 2015. Only New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks topped De La Cruz’s throw, reaching 105.5 mph on a throw in 2016.
The Reds superstar had no idea he threw it as hard as he did.
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"I thought it was like 98, 99 (mph)," De La Cruz said, according to MLB.com. "I didn't know; it was not hard."
In addition to taking a run off the board for the Dodgers, De La Cruz was responsible for the Reds’ only two runs of the game. He hammered Tarik Skubal’s 87 mph changeup 444 feet into the left-field seats for a two-run home run in the top of the third inning, tying the game 2-2.
It was the fourth straight game in which De La Cruz hit a home run. It was the two-time All-Star’s 25th home run of the season. In 126 games, he is hitting .283 with 25 stolen bases and 69 RBI, in addition to his 25 home runs.