Watch: Pirates outfielder nails runner at home with 105.2 mph throw

Test the arm of Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Oneil Cruz at your own risk. That seems to be the lesson to emerge from one of the best defensive plays in Major League Baseball this past weekend.

Cruz fired a throw from his spot in center field at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sunday, July 6 that registered at 105.2 miles per hour and resulted in an out at home plate as J.P. Crawford of the Seattle Mariners tried to score. It is considered the second-hardest throw to lead to an outfield assist since MLB began tracking the statistic through Statcast in 2016. 

The Pirates wound up with a 1-0 loss despite another strong performance by ace Paul Skenes, but the historic velocity produced by Cruz’s arm was a hot topic afterwards. It’s the fastest throw by an outfielder in franchise history and the fastest to produce an MLB out since Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees had a throw that registered at 105.5 mph, according to Statcast.

‘It was unbelievable,’ Pirates interim manager Don Kelly said after the game, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. ‘Honestly, one of the best plays that I’ve seen live, to be able to make that going that way, across the body and throw to home, as accurate as it was.’

The play occurred with one out in the first inning after a line-drive single to left-center by Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco. Cruz moved to his right to field the ball before his throw one-hopped to the plate and landed directly into the glove of Pirates catcher Henry Davis as he tagged Crawford out. Crawford did not slide and appeared surprised by Cruz’s exploits.

Perhaps Crawford shouldn’t have been, though. Cruz leads MLB in arm strength this season, according to Statcast, with his throws from the outfield averaging 98.6 mph. The league average for center fielders is 89.7 mph. The 26-year-old had the previous season-high throw of 104.9 mph as well.

Cruz, who is listed at 6-foot-7, also has the hardest-hit ball since Statcast began tracking that statistic. A home run hit by Cruz on May 25 at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park landed in the Allegheny River and had an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. Cruz has a .203 batting average with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs this season.