Pittsburgh’s PNC Park is already one of the most picturesque ballparks in Major League Baseball. But the design also makes players’ performances look especially majestic, like when a batter hits a home run that goes all the way out of the park in right field and into the Allegheny River.
Pirates superstar shortstop Oneil Cruz was the last to do so in the first inning of Saturday’s game with the Tampa Bay Rays, throwing a ball 450 feet (with an exit velocity of 110 mph) into the Allegheny to pitcher Zach Eflin.
However, that was the second time this month that Cruz hit one into the river. He also hit the water on June 6 and teed off to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips.
Cruz has actually hit three home runs in the Allegheny this season, including soaking the ball against Colorado Rockies reliever Jalen Beeks on May 3.
Cruz’s river shot on Saturday was the 75th home run in the Allegheny during PNC Park’s 24-year history, according to MLB.com. A total of forty-nine players have reached the river, but Cruz is only the sixth to hit one into the water – all by Pirates hitters.
With four of his home runs landing in the Allegheny, Cruz joins Garrett Jones, Pedro Álvarez and Josh Bell as the other Pittsburgh hitters to knock as many batters completely out of the ballpark.
A total of 40 Pirates home runs have gone into the Allegheny, which have been blasted by 19 batters. Opponents have reached the river 35 times, hit by 32 different batters. And two players – Matt Stairs and Daryle Ward – have been hitting balls into the water from PNC Park as home and visiting hitters.
Cruz now has 10 home runs this season, second most among Pirates hitters, with a .244 batting average with a .725 OPS, 15 doubles and 31 RBI.
