Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz delivered one of the fastest throws in Major League Baseball history during a third-inning relay against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. The remarkable play, which preserved a lead for the Dodgers, saw De La Cruz fire a 105.3 mph strike to home plate to nail Teoscar Hernández.
Relay Outing
The play unfolded when Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández hit a line drive that got past Reds center fielder Dane Myers. As Hernández rounded the bases with the intent of an inside-the-park home run, Reds left fielder JJ Bleday retrieved the ball and sent it to De La Cruz. Positioned in shallow center field, De La Cruz received the throw and uncorked his powerful 105.3 mph assist to catcher Jose Trevino, who applied the tag for the out at home.
Reds manager Terry Francona lauded the throw, calling it "one of the better throws you'll ever see, I mean, ever." Starting pitcher Nick Lodolo added, "Every time he throws a ball, it's an absolute rocket."
De La Cruz's throw is the second-fastest recorded outfield assist since Statcast began tracking such data in 2015. Only New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks has recorded a faster throw at 105.5 mph in 2016. De La Cruz himself was surprised by the velocity, stating he thought it was around 98 or 99 mph.
Offensive Contribution
Beyond his defensive feat, De La Cruz also contributed to the Reds' offense. He hit a two-run home run in the top of the third inning, a 444-foot blast into left field off Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal, which tied the game at 2-2 at the time. This marked his fourth consecutive game with a home run and his 25th of the season.
De La Cruz, a two-time All-Star, is batting .283 with 25 home runs, 69 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 126 games this season.