Tag Archives: J.P. Crawford

Oneil Cruz Nabs Runner at Home Plate with Incredible 105.2 MPH Throw

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Oneil Cruz is armed and dangerous…

The 26-year-old Dominican professional baseball center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates made a 105.2 mph throw to nab the Seattle Mariners‘ J.P. Crawford at the plate on Sunday, the second-hardest thrown ball to produce an outfield assist since Statcast started tracking in 2015.

Oneil Cruz“It was unbelievable, honestly, one of the best plays that I’ve seen live,” Pirates interim manager Don Kelly said. “To be able to make that going that way and across his body and throw back to home as accurate as it was, just an amazing play.”

It was one of few highlights for the Pirates, who were shut out by Seattle for a third straight game, losing 1-0.

The fastest throw from the outfield that produced an out in Major League Baseball‘s Statcast era was 105.5 mph by Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees in 2016.

Cruz’s throw was the fastest of any kind by a Pirates outfielder. The one-hopper to the plate came as a surprise to Crawford, who did not slide on the play.

With one out in the first inning, the Mariners’ Jorge Polanco lined a single to left-center off All-Star right-hander Paul Skenes. Cruz ranged to his right, fielded it and threw on a line toward catcher Henry Davis.

The ball bounced directly into Davis’ mitt and he made the tag, much to Skenes’ surprise as he backed up the play behind the plate.

“Yeah, I had the best seat in the house. That was unbelievable,” said Skenes, who struck out 10 in five scoreless innings. “Henry played it perfectly, too. It feels lucky, but I know Henry and Oneil created luck for me there.”

The 6-foot-7 Cruz was already a Statcast hero of sorts.

In May, he had the hardest-hit ball since Statcast started tracking, a home run at PNC Park that left the bat at 122.9 mph and splashed into the Allegheny River.

Jean Segura Traded to the Philadelphia Phillies

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Jean Segura is headed to The City of Brotherly Love…

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired the 28-year-old Dominican Major League Baseball infielder and MLB All-Star from the Seattle Mariners.

Jean Segura

The deal involves multiple players and required Segura to waive his no-trade clause to join Philadelphia.

First baseman Carlos Santana and shortstop J.P. Crawford were among the players headed to Seattle, while relievers Juan Nicasio and James Pazos head to Philadelphia in the deal.

Segura batted .304 with 10 home runs, 91 runs and 63 RBIs in 144 games last season and was named an American League All-Star.

In June 2017, Segura agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract with the Mariners spanning 2018 to 2022. The deal has a $17 million option for 2023, with a $1 million buyout.

Segura was the centerpiece of one of Seattle’s biggest moves after the 2016 season, when he was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a five-player trade.

He will become the latest high-profile player traded away by the Mariners, who are tearing down their roster in an effort to rebuild the team.

Santana, the 32-year-old Dominican baseball first baseman, signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Phillies last offseason and has a base salary of $17 million in 2019 and $17.5 million in 2020. His contract has a club option for the 2021 season worth $17.5 million with a $500,000 buyout.

He hit .229 with 24 home runs and 86 RBIs in 2018.

Nicasio, a 32-year-old Dominican right-hander, was 1-6 with a 6.00 ERA and one save in 42 relief innings in 2018. He pitched for the Phillies briefly in 2017 after they claimed him off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and later traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals.

With Santana traded, Rhys Hoskins will return to first base for the Phillies after playing in left field last season.

Carlos Santana Agrees to $60 Million Deal with Philadelphia Phillies

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Carlos Santana is crossing state lines for a big paycheck…

The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the 31-year-old professional baseball player and free agent first baseman, according to multiple reports.

Carlos Santana

Santana became the first to reach a deal among the nine free agents who last month rejected $17.4 million qualifying offers from their former teams.

Santana has played his entire Major League Baseball career with the Cleveland Indians, who acquired him in a 2009 trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Santana has developed into a consistent run producer, and after catching and playing third base, he has become one of the league’s best fielding first basemen. He was a Gold Glove finalist this year.

The switch-hitter batted .259 with 23 homers and 79 RBIs last season for the American League Central champion Indians. He has a career .249 average with 174 home runs in eight seasons for Cleveland.

Santana will join a rebuilding Phillies lineup that also includes slugger Rhys Hoskins, outfielders Aaron Altherr, Nick Williams and Odubel Herrera, and third baseman Maikel Franco.

Nearly 150 of Santana’s 571 at-bats last season came in the leadoff spot, and with a career on-base percentage of .365, he can help provide RBI opportunities for Philadelphia’s other top hitters in the middle of the order.

Santana’s departure is a big loss for Cleveland, which led the AL with 102 wins during the regular season but lost to the New York Yankees in a Division Series.

Santana has a .213 average with four homers and eight RBI in 21 career postseason games.

The addition of Santana would be the second major deal completed Friday by the Phillies, who also traded shortstop Freddy Galvis to the San Diego Padres in a move that likely opens the shortstop job for top prospect J.P. Crawford.

Philadelphia Phillies Trade Freddy Galvis to the San Diego Padres

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Que padre for Freddy Galvis…

The Philadelphia Phillies announced they have traded the 28-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball player to the San Diego Padres.

Freddy Galvis

Philadelphia will receive minor-league pitcher Enyel De Los Santos in the deal.

Galvis has been Philadelphia’s starting shortstop for the last three seasons and has emerged as one of the sport’s top defensive players at the position. He batted .255 with 12 home runs, 61 RBIs and 14 stolen bases this past season, his sixth overall with the Phillies.

Galvis is eligible to become a free agent after the 2018 season. The trade likely will open up an opportunity for top prospect J.P. Crawford to become Philadelphia’s starting shortstop.

De Los Santos, who turns 22 on Dec. 25, went 10-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 26 games — 24 starts — for Double-A San Antonio in 2017.

Galvis would mark the second infield acquisition this week for the Padres, who already brought back third baseman Chase Headley in a trade Tuesday with the New York Yankees.