Oneil Cruz Just Hit a 117 MPH Bomb That Bounced Off the Foul Pole and Baseball Might Never Be the Same

You know that feeling when you're watching a regular season game and a player does something so absurd, so physically impossible looking, that you have to rewind it three times to believe what you just saw? Oneil Cruz did that on Opening Day. The Pirates outfielder crushed a home run that literally bounced off the top of the foul pole at 117 mph off the bat. Not many ballparks even call that a homer. This guy is different.

From Disaster to Absolute Beast Mode

Here's the thing about Oneil Cruz that makes him fascinating and maddening at the same time. Early in the season, he was a defensive liability in center field. A straight-up disaster waiting to happen. The guy couldn't catch a routine fly ball. But credit where it's due: he's cleaned that up significantly since those first couple weeks. More importantly though, his bat has completely exploded.

Last year Cruz finished with a .200 average and 20 home runs. Ugly. Through just 24 games this season? He's got 7 homers, he's hitting .283 with a .903 OPS, and he's second in all of baseball with 10 stolen bases. The guy is playing like an Elly De La Cruz clone but from the outfield, leading off for Pittsburgh. He's doing things at the plate that defy all logic.

The Most Fun Player in the League Right Now

Honestly, Oneil Cruz might be the most electric player to watch in baseball right now. The Pirates are building something special with young talent around him, and when you combine his elite speed with that lumbering power and a cannon for an arm, you're looking at a player who changes games on his own. A 420-plus foot home run to right field that's only a home run in half the ballparks in the majors? That's the kind of weird flex that tells you everything you need to know about his raw ability.

The Pirates have something brewing. Keep your eye on Cruz and that lineup as the season rolls on.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.