Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz threw out a runner at home plate with a relay throw clocked at 105.3 mph on Tuesday, the second-fastest outfield assist recorded since MLB’s Statcast tracking system began in 2015.
The play happened during the Reds’ 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. In the bottom of the third inning, Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández hit a line drive to center field off Reds starter Nick Lodolo. Center fielder Dane Myers dove for the ball but missed it, and it rolled to the wall.
Hernández rounded the bases trying for an inside-the-park home run. Left fielder JJ Bleday retrieved the ball as Hernández passed third base and threw it to De La Cruz, who was positioned in shallow center field. De La Cruz caught the throw and fired it home at 105.3 mph. Catcher Jose Trevino fielded it and tagged out Hernández at the plate.
Only one throw has ever been recorded faster: a 105.5 mph throw by then-Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks in 2016.
Manager and teammates react
Reds manager Terry Francona praised the throw in comments reported by MLB.com.
“That was one of the better throws you’ll ever see, I mean, ever,” Francona said. “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).”
Lodolo, the starting pitcher on the play, also credited the sequence.
“Every time he throws a ball, it’s an absolute rocket,” Lodolo said. “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 said he underestimated his own throw.
“I thought it was like 98, 99 (mph),” De La Cruz said. “I didn’t know; it was not hard.”
A big night at the plate too
De La Cruz also accounted for both of Cincinnati’s runs in the game. He hit a 444-foot, two-run home run off Tarik Skubal’s 87 mph changeup in the top of the third inning, tying the score at 2-2.
It was De La Cruz’s fourth straight game with a home run and his 25th of the season. Through 126 games, the two-time All-Star is hitting .283 with 25 home runs, 25 stolen bases and 69 RBI.
