Cincinnati’s De La Cruz records one of MLB’s fastest throws to home plate

By Priya Anand — 10 September 2026 — 3 min read

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz made a notable play during the team’s 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. De La Cruz executed a relay throw that was recorded as one of the fastest in MLB history, preventing a potential inside-the-park home run.

The play occurred in the bottom of the third inning when Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández hit a line drive to center field off Reds starter Nick Lodolo. Reds center fielder Dane Myers attempted a diving catch but missed the ball, which then bounced to the wall. Hernández rounded the bases, aiming for an inside-the-park home run.

Reds left fielder JJ Bleday retrieved the ball as Hernández was approaching third base and threw it to De La Cruz, who was positioned in shallow center field for the relay. De La Cruz caught the toss and delivered a throw to home plate. According to one report, the throw reached 105.3 mph. Reds catcher Jose Trevino received the throw and tagged Hernández for the out at home plate.

Hernández commented on the play, stating that he believed De La Cruz was the only player who could have thrown him out in that specific situation. He also mentioned that it would have been his first inside-the-park home run as a professional at any level. Hernández initially thought he was close to scoring until he reviewed the replay.

The speed of De La Cruz’s throw garnered attention, with Reds.TV play-by-play announcer John Sadak remarking on its velocity during the broadcast. While one report indicated a speed of 105.3 mph, the Reds reported an update stating the throw’s speed was 102.0 mph.

Manager and Teammate Reactions

Reds manager Terry Francona praised De La Cruz’s throw, calling it one of the best he had ever seen. Francona compared it to throws made by historical players like Dave Parker or Roberto Clemente. Starting pitcher Nick Lodolo also commented on De La Cruz’s arm strength, describing his throws as “absolute rockets” and acknowledging Trevino’s role in making the tag.

De La Cruz himself expressed surprise at the recorded speed of his throw, stating that he thought it was closer to 98 or 99 mph and did not perceive it as particularly hard. This throw was the second-fastest recorded for an outfield assist since Statcast began tracking throws in 2015. Only New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks had a faster throw, reaching 105.5 mph in 2016.

Offensive Contributions

Beyond his defensive play, De La Cruz also contributed offensively in the same game. He hit a two-run home run in the top of the third inning, tying the game 2-2. This home run, hit off Tarik Skubal’s 87 mph changeup, traveled 444 feet into the left-field seats.

This marked the fourth consecutive game in which De La Cruz hit a home run. The two-time All-Star has accumulated 25 home runs this season. In 126 games, he has a batting average of .283, along with 25 stolen bases and 69 RBI.

Source: foxnews.com