Kevin Kiermaier crushes long home run off scoreboard in right
Exceptional defense is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Kiermaier has developed a reputation as one of the premier defensive center fielders in the game. His incredible game-saving catches routinely inspire shouts of excitement from fans, and curses of frustration from the opposing team.
On Wednesday, though, it was Kiermaier’s ability at the plate that had us screaming four letter words. In the bottom of the first inning, Kiermaier absolutely crushed a home run to deep right field that eventually hit the scoreboard beyond the seats.
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The blast, which came off a 93 mph fastball from Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy, gave the Rays the early lead. The shot officially left the bat at 105 mph, and landed 425 feet away from home plate. Not too bad for a guy known for his defense.
Of course, this is Kiermaier we’re talking about, so you know his defensive prowess also came into play. In the second inning, he made a great leaping catch out in center to rob Caleb Joseph of an extra base hit.
Don’t worry, Kiermaier isn’t changing his stripes. While his massive home run was impressive, he’s still going to be known for his tremendous defensive plays. When he can do both in one game, though, that’s tough to beat.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
