The Cincinnati Reds officially welcomed their position players to their spring training camp in Goodyear, Arizona this week where they finally got to join the pitchers and catchers who’d already been there. Smiles were had, hugs were exchanged, and live batting practice eventually ensued.
Said live batting practiced featured Elly De La Cruz - he of the 118.8 mph exit velocity last year - against Hunter Greene - he of the 103 mph heater. And while the physics of the baseball stadium could not contain the contact between the two between the lines, a foul ball swatted like Dikembe Mutombo still managed to travel about a billion miles per hour off Elly’s bat.