Oneil Cruz Hit a 117 MPH Bomb That Bounced Off the Foul Pole and It's the Most Ridiculous Home Run You'll See All Season
Oneil Cruz is doing things in 2026 that don't make sense on a baseball field. Through just 24 games, the Pirates outfielder has racked up 7 home runs and is hitting .283 with a .903 OPS. He's also second in all of MLB with 10 stolen bases. That's not just a hot start. That's a player who looks like he's playing a different game than everyone else.
Last year, Cruz finished with a .200 batting average and 20 home runs. This year? He's already a completely different animal. He's an Elly De La Cruz clone who plays the outfield and bats lead-off for Pittsburgh. The guy combines lumbering power with elite speed in a way you almost never see. When you put that combination on a baseball field, weird things happen.
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That 117 MPH off-the-bat home run that bounced off the top of the foul pole? Yeah, that's the kind of thing that makes you stop and rewind. There aren't many 420-plus foot home runs to right field that are only home runs in 50% of major league ballparks. Cruz somehow found a way to do exactly that. It's the kind of logic-defying baseball moment that reminds you why you watch this sport.
The Defense Has Been a Disaster (But He's Getting Better)
To be fair, Cruz's defense in center has been rough. Between him and Bryan Reynolds in left, the Pirates aren't exactly shutting down fly balls in the gap. He had a rough opening day and the early weeks of the season showed a player who hadn't quite figured out outfield positioning. To his credit though, he's cleaned up his defense significantly since those first couple weeks. The Pirates have one of the most exciting young cores in baseball right now, and if Cruz can keep his act together defensively while maintaining this offensive pace, Pittsburgh might be fun to watch.
Right now, Oneil Cruz might be the most fun player in baseball. Keep an eye on what he does next.
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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.