Nick Lodolo shuts out Washington Nationals, Reds avoid sweep
Cincinnati Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (8-6, 3.08 ERA) pitched a 4-hitter to beat the Nationals and avert a sweep for the Reds July 23.
When MLB.com asked 90 big-league players who the fastest player in baseball is, 40 voted for Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. received 17 votes, and so did Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Interestingly enough, Simpson voted for De La Cruz.
“Elly can move,” Simpson said, per MLB.com. “He’s just relentless. He just has the mindset, like, ‘I’m going to go. Me versus you, I’ve got myself over anybody.’ I like that mindset. He’s exciting.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates‘ Oneil Cruz and the Rays’ Jose Caballero lead MLB this season with 33 stolen bases each. Simpson and Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez are tied for third with 31 each. The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks fifth with 28, and Witt and De La Cruz are tied for sixth with 27 apiece.
In July 2024, De La Cruz referred to himself as the “fastest man alive” in a video shared by MLB’s Twitter/X account.