A's center fielder Ramon Laureano let the major leagues know Saturday that his throwing arm is not to be taken lightly.
Laureano launched a rainbow from the left-center field gap to first base, on the fly, to double up the Angels' Eric Young Jr. Per MLB.com, Statcast pegged the peg at 91.2 mph out of Laureano's hand and 321 feet long.
"The throw was kind of crazy," Laureano told reporters, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "I don't even know what to say. . . . I was shocked."
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That was mighty impressive, but was it better than another eye-popping toss by an Oakland outfielder at Angel Stadium, Yoenis Cespedes' desperation heave to the plate in June 2014?
We don't have Statcast readings on Cespedes' throw, but Cespedes was a few strides from the left-field corner, so the distance appeared to be shorter. It did cut down a runner who had rounded third and was attempting to score (Howie Kendrick), so the velocity had to be mighty high.
But come on, Laureano ran down a gapper by Justin Upton, stopped himself before brushing the fence, and then gathered and fired a strike to retire Young. Two incredible outs on one play. Cespedes just chucked his ball after kicking it.
Style points, and the win, to Laureano.
