When Javier Baez stepped to the plate for the first time on Monday evening, AT&T Park was about to witness history. Though Baez’s two-run inside-the-park home run was just the 10th in AT&T Park history, the 16.11 seconds it took him to round the base paths wasn’t even the most exciting part of the play.
Jon Miller had the call: “That’s hit to a huge gap…. It is right there at 421 – and a sidelong bounce! He’s going to get at least three, they’re going to wave him home. Here comes the throw all the way in! … Safe! An inside-the-park home run for Javier Baez. A rather extraordinary throw from Moncrief, a high-arching throw but all the way through, and he almost got him.”
Giants’ color commentator Mike Krukow: “He almost pulled it off. This is the one thing about the wall, you never know what it’s going to do but look at the strength of this throw. He had no cut off man to worry about, a perfect one-hop strike to Posey, and Baez just does get in underneath it.”
For those unfamiliar with Moncrief’s story, he’s a 28-year-old outfielder that has spent his last 10 seasons as a career minor leaguer. He didn’t start out as an outfielder though. In fact, he began his minor league career as a pitcher in the Cleveland Indians organization, ranging from 95 to 97 miles per hour with his fastball. His former pitching experience gives a strong testament to his throwing arm, a trait that is giving him plenty of notice in the Giants organization, especially after Monday.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon: “That guy may have the best arm I’ve ever seen. That’s Bo Jackson arm stuff right there. That was that good, that was Bo good. I’ve always thought of Shawon Dawnston and Bo Jackson, Shawon Dawnston on the infield Bo Jackson on the outfield, I think Moncrief is among that group. That was incredible.”
Cubs shortstop Javier Baez: “He has a great arm, we talked about it earlier. He showed it right there he almost was able to get me out.”
Bruce Bochy: “He showed that arm that he was with that throw to home,” he said. “I mean that was a bang bang play and from where he threw it, it wasn’t like he took a lot of time to load up on it… This guy just has a gun.”
Moncrief’s teammates echoed similar thoughts, with many remarking his throwing arm as incredible.
Pitcher Matt Moore: “That was an amazing throw. From how far he threw it, that was the only chance there was right there for there to be a play at the plate.”
First baseman Ryder Jones, Moncrief’s teammate with AAA Sacramento: “I wasn’t surprised at all. The (Cubs) first base coach was like, ‘That guy has a cannon.’ I was telling him that Moncrief hit 97 on the mound a couple of months ago in Sacramento. It doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s got a hose and he showed it tonight.”
Giants’ broadcaster Duane Kuiper, the morning after Moncrief’s throw: “His throw yesterday was absolutely incredible. Remember Moncreif was a pitcher when he started out in the minor leagues so you know he’s got a great arm…I don’t know what’s going to happen with Moncreif. I don’t know where he fits in, but if he has a chance to be a fourth or fifth outfielder it’ll be fun watching him use that arm because it is a cannon. And it appears to be fairly accurate. So we’ll see what happens with the kid — he’s not a kid he’s 29 — but he’s hung around long enough now where the organization has a chance to notice him, and once you get noticed at least you’re on their radar. It’s up to him to see if he can do enough stuff where he’s got a shot to make this team next year.”
Moncrief delivered a more modest approach after the game, saying he was just trying to make a play: “Honestly I was just trying to go as hard as I can. I wanted to keep that run from scoring. It just so happened after me trying to go hard and stop the run from scoring that it turned into a good throw. I wasn’t like ‘let me make the best throw of my life’ it was more like ‘I’ll do what I can to keep the run from scoring.’ … I don’t really think about whether or not I’m a threat out there. It’s more like just playing the game.”
Though Moncrief’s throw was late, he did crack a smile upon hearing Maddon’s comparison: “That feels good obviously,” he said. “I’m trying to do the best that I can do to help the team win. If it draws comparisons that’s always good to hear, that just keeps me working.”