Only seven players hit the ball that hard in 2021, and only 20 since 2015. Continued Franchy Coredro and Chris Gittens (who and huh?) The gist is, if you're golfing out a bad pitch, it's hard to get the juice on it for anything more than a wall-scraper. What are Oneil Cruz's stats? It took star prospect Oneil Cruz just over 10 weeks to make his season debut with the Pirates, on Monday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. With this performance Cruz now owns a the hardest hit ball and fasted sprint speed by a Pirate player this season. Cruz then drove in a run with a base hit in the 7th inning, making him 2-for-4 and making the score 10-1 Pirates. Not even. He also had . See more. Pirates' Oneil Cruz, at 6-foot-7, is the tallest shortstop in MLB history. The 6-7 shortstop gunned down a would-be runner at first with a 96.7 MPH throw - fastest by any infielder this season - and later smacked a three-run double at 112.9 MPH, the hardest-hit ball by . Either way, stash him now and be thankful later. 21Oneil Cruz is one of the most-hyped Pirates prospects to be elevated to the major league club, . Share . Jun. . Light-hitting Michael Perez became the first Pirates catcher in the history of the franchise to hit three home runs in a game, and rookies Oneil Cruz and Jack Suwinski also went deep to help make . He hit .310 while slugging 17 homers last year in the minors. Standing an Aaron Judge-like 6-feet-7, Cruz. Pittsburgh won 12-1, with Cruz picking up his two hits and driving in four runs for the Bucs. Even Statcast was impressed as Cruz hit 96.7 mph with a throw from short, ripped a three-run double that left the bat at 112.9 mph and beat a throw to first base by flying out of the batter's box.. Cruz is unusually tall for a shortstop at 6ft 7in, nonetheless the Dominican has already recorded the hardest hit of the ball by a Pirate and quickest three sprints of the yr - on this his second . It was the hardest throw by an infielder all season. Oneil Cruz's elite play and multifaceted skill set were on full display throughout the Pirates' 12-1 rout of the Cubs on Monday night. Oneil Cruz's 118.2 MPH single is the hardest-hit batted ball by a @Pirates hitter since at least 2015. He also registered the "hardest-hit ball by a Pirates player this season (112.9 mph), and on the play, he also recorded the team's fastest sprint speed of the year." While Cruz' presence "won't be enough to meaningfully change" another likely losing season for the team, Pirates games "undoubtedly have become more fun as a result of his arrival." Oneil Cruz made a good throw during the Pirates vs Cubs MLB game, as fans in awe of the short store reeled the ball back at 100mph. 112.9 MPH off the bat of Oneil Cruz for his first hit of the season ? The bigger story was the amazing things Cruz did in just one game. Cruz also had the hardest hit ball by a Pirate last season as well, despite Cruz only playing in 2 games in the MLB. . Cruz uses his height and weight to his advantage while defending. 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a . Oneil Cruz was breaking Statcast left and right, and he singlehandedly makes the Pirates fun and watchable. Oneil Cruz, SS, Pirates: What Cruz did in his return to the majors was pretty remarkable. What a crazy collapse from a team that was at one point 17 games above .500 and was in possession of a wild card spot for the majority of the season. He also hit the hardest ball any Pirates player has hit all season (the 112.9 miles per hour double above) and had the three highest sprint speeds recorded this season by a Pirates player (via MLB Pipeline). All this from the tallest regular shortstopassuming he stays putin MLB history. He's already got the hardest tracked throw by an infielder of the season (96.7). also had 118 MPH hits, so it's . He told the Athletic, "You're going to see a lot of baseballs hit hard and a lot of balls traveling very far." 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate (112.9) This wasn't Cruz's MLB debut. RT @MLBPipeline: 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate (112.9) The 3 fastest sprint speeds of the year by a Pirate (31.5, 30.7, 30.3) Cruz has been one of the top prospects in the Pirates' farm system for some time. The hardest throw by any major league infielder this season. It's Oneil Cruz's first game of the season and he already recorded the hardest throw by an infielder this year at 96.7 MPH pic.twitter.com/5XUlqHRjac MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2022 In the bottom half. Oneil Cruz Gives the Pirates Hope for a Brighter, More Entertaining Future. The tallest shortstop (6-foot-7) to ever start an MLB game, Cruz ripped off the hardest throw a MLB infielder has done this year (96.6 mph) on a groundout. Then he crushed a 112.9 mph rocket for a three-run double in the bottom of the third inning, the hardest-hit ball of the year by a Pirates player. He also hit the hardest ball any Pirates player has hit all season (the 112.9 miles per hour double above) and had the three highest sprint speeds recorded this season by a Pirates player (via MLB Pipeline).' All this from the tallest regular shortstop -- assuming he stays put -- in MLB history.' This wasn't Cruz's MLB debut. "My first thought was, 'I hope a fan gets out of the way because this ball is coming in hot . His first hit of the season was a bases-clearing double - and the hardest hit ball by any Pirate this year. This guy is basically matching that in AAA. He also clocked the three-fastest sprint speeds by a Pirate this seasonyes, all in his first gameand the hardest-hit ball this season for the club (112.9). To put the speed of Oneil Cruz's throw into perspective, it was even faster than Pirates starting pitcher JT Brubaker has managed this season. To top it off, he recorded an assist that was thrown 96.7 mph, the hardest-thrown ball by an infielder this season. He also hit a home run from practically a kneeling position, a feat he repeated. 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates ' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate (112.9). Oneil Cruz - Pirates: The Pirates have decided Cruz is ready for MLB action. 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates ' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate (112.9) The 3 fastest sprint speeds of the year by a Pirate (31.5, 30.7, 30.3) pic.twitter.com/nScTK5mD4A MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 21, 2022 Cruz showed his talent in all aspects tonight. . He had the hardest-hit ball of the season for a Pirate (112.9 mph), the highest sprint speed of the season for a Pirate and the hardest throw by any MLB infielder -- Pirate or not -- in 2022 (96.7 mph). The bases-clearing double registered as the hardest-hit ball by a Pirates player this season (112.9 mph), and on the . Now, he's getting his opportunity at the major league level. Wow, I believe the statcast era record for hardest hit ball is 122.2 MPH from Stanton. Oneil Cruz is a SS prospect for the Pirates who made his season debut yesterday. Cruz's elite play and multifaceted skill set were on full display throughout the Pirates' 12-1 rout of the Cubs on Monday night in what turned out to be a record-breaking night for the 23-year-old. Cruz has come up with a bang, already setting Statcast records for fastest throw by an infielder this year, hardest hit ball this year for the Pirates, and sprint speed (Cruz was clocked at 31.5 feet per second, faster than some elite NFL Wide Receivers). Oneil Cruz impressed both at the plate and on the field in his first game since being called up from the minors, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 12-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs. It took just over 10 batters for him to make his first play in the field. His lower half is extremely athletic and he is able to do damage on 'B' swings, especially on hanging breaking pitches. Cruz is unusually tall for a shortstop at 6ft 7in, but. The hardest-hit ball and the fastest sprint around the bases by a Pirate through 66 games, too, a madcap dash that drove in three runs and ended with Cruz practically cackling as he made his way from second to third.. Cruz showcased his powerful arm in the third inning after fielding a Willson Contreras groundout and whistling . 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a . His debut on Monday was impressive with the hardest hit ball of the . The Padres are 78-77 the most they can win now is 85. Photo credit Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports. The hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate (112.9) The 3 fastest sprint . Oneil Cruz has finally arrived. 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a . Cruz played in two games last October and delivered the hardest-hit ball by a Pirate all season, a 118.2 mph single. Sure, the Pirates swept the Dodgers earlier this season and took 5 out of 6 during a stretch. . He ripped a 113-mph line drive that rolled all the way to the wall hardest-hit ball by a Pirate so far this year. and that is hardest-hit ball in Pirates history (well, since exit velocities have been . Oneil Cruz produced pretty a throw by the Pirates vs Cubs MLB battle, with followers in awe of the shortshop returning a ball at nearly 100mph. Oneil Cruz made quite the impression in his highly anticipated 2022 season debut. Impressive numbers for anyone, let alone someone who's taller than Aaron Judge, the Yankees' giant slugger. He also had a 112.9 mph exit velocity on a . Cruz has the next hardest-hit ball in measured history, a 121.7 mph single hit while playing for Class AAA Indianapolis last month. Oneil Cruz made quite the impression in his highly anticipated 2022 season debut. The hardest-hit ball and the fastest sprint around the bases by a Pirate through 66 games, too, a madcap dash that drove in three runs and ended with Cruz practically cackling as he made his way . 3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates ' Oneil Cruz has registered: The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph) The hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate (112.9) The 3. In his debut, he recorded (1) the hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate, (2) the 3 fastest sprint speeds of the year by a Pirate, and (3) the hardest throw to first base by any MLB infielder this year, at 96.7 mph: His 112.9 mph, bases-clearing double was the hardest-hit ball by any Pirate all season. In the bottom half of the third, Cruz hit a ball 112.9 miles per hour to the wall in center field, driving in three runs. Pittsburgh won 12-1, with Cruz picking up his two hits and driving in four runs for the Bucs. Oneil Cruz, SS/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (15) hits an RBI single against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at PNC Park. The Pirates whomped the Cubs 12-1, with Cruz accounting for two hits and four RBI. During the third inning, Cruz fired a 96.7-mph laser to first base to retire Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.