WATCH: Jackie Bradley Jr. Sends 101 MPH Throw From Center Field Toward Home Plate
BOSTON (CBS) -- Often, the word "cannon" is used to describe an outfielder's arm, but for years, we never really knew exactly how hard those guys were throwing.
Now, thanks to advances in technology, we do. And we can say with great confidence that Jackie Bradley Jr. has a cannon.
In the top of the seventh inning on Monday night, in a game the Red Sox trailed 2-1 to the Tigers, Bradley put that cannon on display when the friendly Mike Aviles sent a fly ball to center field with a runner on third and nobody out. Bradley was able to camp out under the ball and catch it while charging in toward the plate, which was enough to prevent Justin Upton from trying to tag up and score.
But Bradley took no risks, uncorking a missile toward home plate. Thanks to MLB's Statcast, we now know that throw was clocked at 101.1 mph.
That's quite the throw.
In case you're wondering, this is how MLB describes how Statcast works: "Statcast collects the data using a series of high-resolution optical cameras along with radar equipment that has been installed in all 30 Major League ballparks. The technology precisely tracks the location and movements of the ball and every player on the field at any given time."
Last year, Bradley hit 100 mph twice, and he's certainly not the only outfielder to reach triple digits.
But it's heat like that which helps explain his 10 assists, which are most in MLB from a center fielder this year.
Upton eventually ended up scoring, and the Tigers ended up winning, but the league at least now knows to be very careful when choosing to run on Jackie Bradley Jr.
