Stuns Javier Baez with astonishing 98 mph throw, Elly De La Cruz delivers.
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Let's give ice to Jose Trevino after his blazing fast throw blocked a Trey Sweeney run during the Reds' 11-1 triumph over the Tigers.
During the third inning, Baez found himself on first base due to a Sweeney one-hopper that careened off the right field wall. With the score still level, Jake Fraley smartly played the carom and passed the ball to De La Cruz on the outfield grass behind second base.
In a flash, De La Cruz fired the ball home, tagging Javier Baez before he even appeared on the television screen. His throws usually clock at speeds worthy of a speeding ticket, and this one was no exception.
What sets De La Cruz apart is his incredible arm strength. Over the years, he's demonstrated one of the fastest throwing velocities in Major League Baseball, and for good reason. He holds four of the five fastest infield assists in the Statcast era (since 2015), and among his top three velocities, one clocks an astonishing 99.8 mph.
The only other athlete in the last decade to come close was Gabriel Arias of the Guardians, who managed a throw of 98.6 mph back in 2024. But even that doesn't quite match De La Cruz's arm strength.
The phenom didn't stop there—he even belted a homerun for the third consecutive game, boosting his season total to 15. This ball catapulted off his bat at a sensational 110.1 mph, traveling an impressive 402 feet.
Rapper Snoop Dogg was left amazed during a Reds-Brewers game last June when he witnessed De La Cruz's incredible arm power. "Oh, he's safe, he can't throw that. He ain't got no arm like that. No, he don't!" Snoop exclaimed as De La Cruz made a play on the right, and then unleashed a rocket across the diamond, "Who is that with that rocket? Oh lord, he got a rocket in his pocket. Oh, he made that."
In short, Elly De La Cruz is a defensive powerhouse in the infield, and his throws are the stuff of legends.
Elly De La Cruz, known for his extraordinary arm strength, boasts one of the fastest throwing velocities in Major League Baseball, having recorded a speed of 99.8 mph – a impressive feat that has earned him four of the five fastest infield assists in the Statcast era. It seems his throwing abilities are not only limited to MLB, as they have even caught the attention of renowned rapper Snoop Dogg, who marveled at De La Cruz's arm power during a Reds-Brewers game last June. In this game, De La Cruz showcased his powerful throws on the baseball field, and off the field, his throws earned comparisons to a rocket by Snoop Dogg.
