Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Onircruz, renowned for his powerful home run hits, has been announced as a participant in next week’s home run derby in Atlanta. He is the fifth player confirmed for the event at Truist Park on Monday, which will coincide with the All-Star Game later that evening. Alongside Cruz will be competitors Ronald Acuña Jr. from Atlanta, Byron Buxton of Minnesota, Cal Raleigh from Seattle, and James Wood representing Washington.
At 26 years old, Cruz recently hit 15 home runs during a game in Kansas City on Tuesday night and set a personal record with 21 home runs last season. Standing tall at 6-foot-7, he consistently delivers hard-hit home runs; notably, on May 25th, he launched a ball at a remarkable 122.9 mph over the Allegheny River, marking the highest exit speed for home runs since Statcast tracking began in 2015. Cruz also impressed with a 105.2 mph throw to home plate on Sunday, throwing out JP Crawford from Seattle—a throw noted as the second most difficult outfield assist recorded by Statcast.
Fan Take: This announcement excites baseball fans as Cruz’s extraordinary power and arm strength highlight the evolving athleticism in the sport. His participation in the home run derby could light up the event, showcasing thrilling moments and potentially inspiring a new era of dynamic, high-impact play in baseball.
