(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
With the arrival of Elly De La Cruz in Cincinnati, another toolsy infielder has been somewhat relegated in fans’ minds.
However, Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz remains supremely talented and a physical specimen able to do things that nobody else can do.
Take, for example, what he accomplished on Tuesday.
When it comes to hitting the ball hard, there is no one like Cruz.
“Oneil Cruz recorded the hardest-hit ball in MLB this season TWICE in the same game. 1st Inning: 120.4 mph. 9th Inning: 121.5 mph. He’s the first player in the Statcast Era to have multiple hits of 120.0+ in the same game,” the Pirates tweeted.
Oneil Cruz recorded the hardest-hit ball in MLB this season TWICE in the same game.
1st Inning 120.4 mph
9th Inning 121.5 mph
He’s the first player in the Statcast Era to have multiple hits of 120.0+ in the same game. pic.twitter.com/neOrdtdf6Y
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 22, 2024
Not only did Cruz break 2024’s record for the hardest-hit ball, but a few minutes later, he broke the record he had established.
There are no words to describe what he did to those balls, and while he didn’t quite lift them enough for them to leave the yard, he ended the day going 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI.
Cruz isn’t quite having the elite year De La Cruz is enjoying in Cincinnati, but he has been slowly improving and is up to a .744 OPS.
He is hitting .260 with 11 doubles, seven home runs, and four stolen bases.
He is second on the Pirates with 46 hits to this point, and is trending up.
Strikeouts (he has 63 to this date) are still a problem, but at least he hasn’t stopped hitting the ball hard.
When he does that, only good things happen and Tuesday was another reminder of that.
The post Pirates Slugger Made History Twice In The Same Game appeared first on The Cold Wire.
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