160km/h Fastballs Only for Infielders? There’s a Second Position… The Divine Coming Relay
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a game where new faces are constantly making waves. This season is no different.
On July 21, the record for the fastest fastball by an MLB infielder was broken. A player broke his own record just four days later. It was Cincinnati Reds rookie Eli De La Cruz.
He started a home game against the San Francisco Giants, and in the top of the fourth inning, while fielding a hit by pinch-hitter Luis Matos, he picked up an outfielder’s ball and threw a 160.6 mph fastball to first base.
It’s a fastball as fast as a pitch, and it’s all the more remarkable because it came without his normal pitching mechanics kicking in. Cruz had already set the record for the fastest fastball by an infielder with a 157.6 mph first base throw against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 17.
The monster is a rookie who made his big league debut in June. Signed by Cincinnati in 2018, the Dominican Republic native turned heads last season (2022) as a top-10 prospect with 28 home runs and 47 stolen bases in high Single-A and Double-A, and this season he was called up to the big leagues after batting .297 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 38 Triple-A games.
He’s as nimble on his feet as he is with his fastball. He stole 17 bases in 37 games. He can also hit. He hit .279 with a .442 on-base percentage. In the first half of the year, he helped Cincinnati defend its top spot in the division (National League Central).
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, the organization’s No. 1 prospect through the 2021 season, also made a late breakthrough to the big leagues. After making his debut and playing 32 games last season, Carroll has become a mainstay in Arizona’s lineup this season, hitting .283 with 19 home runs, 51 RBIs, 70 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases in 92 games (21 starts). Only Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves), Bobby Witt (Kansas City Royals), and Carroll have more than 25 stolen bases and 15 home runs this season.
Even before his debut, he was considered an all-around player with good contact and power, as well as the ability to run the bases. His value is enhanced by his excellent punch for his size (1.80 meters, 75 kilograms). This season, he lived up to the hype and helped Arizona defy expectations to finish atop the division (National League West).
Along with Carroll, highly touted prospect Adley Rutherford (Baltimore Orioles) burst onto the scene last season, fulfilling his potential as the next Buster Posey. He’s already established himself in the big leagues, appearing in 113 games last season, and is playing full-time this season. He batted .274 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs, and did his part at the plate as well.바카라사이트
Lurchman’s value doesn’t come from his numbers. After years in the bottom half of the American League East, one of the toughest divisions in baseball, Baltimore has been a powerhouse since Lurchman’s arrival. The second-year player has already become a team leader. The Orioles moved into sole possession of first place in the division for the first time this season by sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays on April 21. Lurchman’s stakes are high.