Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández thought he had an inside-the-park home run on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. Nope. Elly De La Cruz got his hands on the relay from the outfield and absolutely UNLEASHED a throw to the plate at 105.3 MPH. That ball arrived so fast, Reds catcher Jose Trevino had the easiest job in the world tagging Hernández out. Seriously, watch it. It’s ridiculous, and it made most roller coasters blush.
The Cannon Arm That Stops HRs Cold
Let’s talk context, because this isn’t just a strong arm, this is historic. Statcast has been tracking outfield assists since 2015, and De La Cruz’s 105.3 MPH missile is the *second-fastest* thrown ball for an outfield assist in that entire span. Think about that. Only Aaron Hicks, back in 2016, threw one faster at 105.5 MPH. That’s some elite company right there. It even edged out Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz’s 105.2 MPH throw from last season, which famously caught our very own J.P. Crawford at the plate. Ouch for J.P., but hey, at least we know the M’s were getting thrown out by a truly exceptional arm. De La Cruz just set the bar even higher for what’s possible.
De La Cruz Isn’t Just a Thrower, He’s a Problem
And listen, it’s not like the kid is *only* a defensive wizard. De La Cruz has been absolutely crushing it at the plate lately too. He rolled into Tuesday’s game with a ridiculous .500/.556/.917 slash line through six September games. We’re talking three home runs and seven RBI in that stretch! Even with the Reds looking in from the outside of the National League playoff picture, De La Cruz is a certified bright spot, a legitimate highlight reel waiting to happen every single night. That throw to prevent the run on Tuesday? Just another chapter in what’s shaping up to be a wild season for him.
So while the Reds might be fighting an uphill battle, you gotta watch this kid. Elly De La Cruz is putting on a show, showcasing power, speed, and now a cannon arm that makes you gasp. He provided one of the season’s absolute highlights this week, and you know he’s going to keep bringing that fire every single time he steps onto the field. What’s next for him? You just know it’s going to be something spectacular.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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