By Yoon Seo Park = Cincinnati Reds monster rookie Eli De La Cruz, 21, broke the record for the fastest fastball thrown by an infielder in four days.

Cruz started at shortstop in the first inning of the Reds’ 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) game against the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, on 21 July (KST).

On the day, Cruz turned in an eye-popping performance. With Cincinnati leading 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, San Francisco’s Luis Matos hit a double over the left field fence.

First baseman Wilmer Flores then raced home, but Cruz made a quick throw home on a grounder to left field. Catcher Luke Mailley tagged out the runner on a one-bound grounder to end the inning.

Cruz’s throw to home plate reached a whopping 99.8 miles per hour (160.6 km/h). It was the fastest infield throw in MLB since Statcast began measuring it in 2015.

Cruz previously set the infield fastball record on 17 July against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he threw 97.9 mph (157.6 km/h), four days after his previous best.온라인바카

After the game, Cruz said, “I know I can throw fast. I’m ready to throw fast whenever I need to,” he said, adding, “I can throw harder than I do now.”

Since making his major league debut in June of this year, De La Cruz has provided a spark at the plate, hitting .279 with four home runs, 16 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 17 doubles and a .763 OPS in 37 games.

Cruz garnered attention for his cycling hit against the Atlanta Braves on 24 March, and he showed off his power against Milwaukee on 9 March when he stole second and third base in the same inning, followed by a home run.