Oneil Cruz Hit a 117 MPH Home Run Off the Top of the Foul Pole and Baseball Might Never Be the Same
Look, I've been watching every game this season trying to actually keep up with baseball for once in my life. And I've developed a new obsession: Oneil Cruz is an absolute freak, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have something special brewing.
Here's the thing about Cruz. The guy has it all. Elite power. Ridiculous speed. A cannon for an arm in right field. He's a disaster waiting to happen on defense, sure, but that's part of what makes him so compelling to watch. Between Cruz and Bryan Reynolds in left field, the Pirates aren't getting many routine fly ball outs in the gap this year.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiFrom .200 to .283 in Just 24 Games
Last year, Cruz finished with a .200 batting average and 20 home runs. That's not exactly setting the world on fire. This season, through just 24 games, he's already got 7 home runs, he's hitting .283 with a .903 OPS, and he's second in the entire MLB with 10 stolen bases. This version of Cruz is basically an Elly De La Cruz clone who plays the outfield and bats leadoff for Pittsburgh. The improvement is real. The defensive mistakes from Opening Day have cleaned up significantly since those first couple weeks.
A 117 MPH Missile That Defies Logic
But the real story is what Cruz does when he connects. That 117 MPH home run that bounced off the top of the foul pole? That's not normal baseball. There aren't many 420-foot home runs to right field that are only homers in 50% of major league ballparks. Cruz might be the most fun player to watch in baseball right now, and the Pirates are one of the most exciting young teams in the league.
The guy was born in the Dominican Republic, and honestly, it's a blessing for baseball. At his size and speed, an American high school gym coach would've pulled him aside and pushed football. Instead, we get to watch him do logic defying things like this.
Keep hoisting that cone, Oneil. The Pirates are just getting started.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.