Pirates’ Oneil Cruz nabs Mariners’ Crawford at the plate on a 105.2 mph throw from center field

SEATTLE AP Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz made a mph throw to nab Seattle s J P Crawford at the plate on Sunday the second-hardest thrown ball to produce an outfield assist since Statcast started tracking in It was unbelievable honestly one of the best plays that I ve seen live Pirates interim manager Don Kelly announced To be able to make that going that way and across his body and throw back to home as accurate as it was just an amazing play It was one of limited highlights for the Pirates who were shut out by Seattle for a third straight contest losing - The fastest throw from the outfield that produced an out in Major League Baseball s Statcast era was mph by Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees in Cruz s throw was the fastest of any kind by a Pirates outfielder The one-hopper to the plate came as a surprise to Crawford who did not slide on the play With one out in the first inning the Mariners Jorge Polanco lined a single to left-center off All-Star right-hander Paul Skenes Cruz ranged to his right fielded it and threw on a line toward catcher Henry Davis The ball bounced directly into Davis mitt and he made the tag much to Skenes surprise as he backed up the play behind the plate Yeah I had the best seat in the house That was unbelievable reported Skenes who struck out in five scoreless innings Henry played it perfectly too It feels lucky but I know Henry and Oneil created luck for me there The -foot- Cruz was already a Statcast hero of sorts In May he had the hardest-hit ball since Statcast started tracking a home run at PNC Park that left the bat at mph and splashed into the Allegheny River AP MLB https apnews com hub MLB Source