Pirates' Oneil Cruz will bring his record-breaking power to the Home Run Derby
He is the fifth player named as a participant in Monday's event at Truist Park, which hosts the All-Star Game a night later. Also competing are Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota's Byron Buxton, Seattle's Cal Raleigh and Washington's James Wood.
Cruz, 26, had 15 homers entering Tuesday night's game at Kansas City. He hit a career-best 21 last season.
When the 6-foot-7 Cruz hits a homer, he often hits it hard. On May 25 against visiting Milwaukee, he hit a ball
measured at 122.9 mph
into the Allegheny River, the highest exit velocity on a home run since Statcast began tracking in 2015.
He also showed off his arm Sunday
with a 105.2 mph throw
to nail Seattle's J.P. Crawford at the plate. That was the second-hardest thrown ball to produce an outfield assist recorded by Statcast.
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