Guardians’ Petey Halpin delivers one of MLB’s hardest outfield assists

CHICAGO — When the time is right, Petey Halpin knows the big throws will be there.

A few hours before first pitch Monday at Rate Field, the Guardians outfielder was taking part in routine pregame drills, firing throws from the outfield to the bases. One throw got away from him, sailing toward a staff member standing near the batting cage. Outfield coach JT Maguire shrugged it off, but Halpin had a response ready as he headed off the field toward the clubhouse.

“I’m a seven o’clock thrower,” he said.

By 7 p.m., he proved the remark prescient.

In the third inning of Cleveland’s 6-5 loss to the White Sox, Halpin charged a single by Miguel Vargas and unleashed a strike from center field that cut down Luisangel Acuña at the plate. The throw, measured by Statcast as one of the six hardest outfield assists in baseball this season, hit 97 mph and erased a run while showcasing an arm that has quietly become one of the strongest tools in Halpin’s game.

For Halpin, the throw was the product of years of work rather than one moment of instinct.

“It’s just constantly working on throwing and making sure that you’re keeping up with it,” Halpin said. “It’s a long season.”

The 24-year-old has long been known for his speed and defense, but arm strength became a point of emphasis last season. According to Maguire, Halpin embraced a structured throwing program designed to build durability and velocity. The biggest influence came when he was at Triple-A Columbus and ex-Guardians outfielder Will Brennan took him under his wing.

“A few years back we talked about getting on a legit throwing program,” Maguire said. “Will basically told Petey, ‘We are going to throw every day and you’re going to build your arm strength.’ To Petey’s credit, he stuck with it.”

Maguire had seen the benefits of a similar program with Brennan during their time together in the minor leagues. Brennan trusted the routine enough to continue throwing through soreness, and he passed that same philosophy along to Halpin.

“Somebody older than him saw the potential of, ‘Hey, you’ve got a strong arm, you can make it stronger,’” Maguire said. “We’re seeing the fruits of his labor now.”

The commitment doesn’t stop when games begin. Halpin’s throwing routine has become something of a trademark inside Cleveland’s clubhouse. Between innings, while many outfielders ease into their warmup tosses, Halpin likes to finish with something closer to a game throw. Rather than flipping the ball to a fan in the stands, Halpin prefers something with a little more zip.

“I like to throw the ball a lot,” Halpin said with a grin. “I like throwing the ball hard a lot and I like to tell people that I like to throw the ball a lot.”

That enthusiasm keeps bullpen coach and staff assistant Ricky Pacione on alert whenever he plays catch with Halpin between innings.

“It showed last night why he does have to get loose like that because it’s not easy standing there for however long you are and then all of a sudden uncorking a 97-mile-an-hour fastball,” Pacione said. “When the ball goes to him, he’s ready to throw.”

Halpin credits his defensive work as a constant foundation, especially during inevitable offensive ups and downs.

“I take a lot of pride in the outfield,” he said. “I think it’s something that I rely on when other things aren’t going well. So it’s something that I constantly work on and try to get better with.”

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt believes those efforts have helped create a top-level defender. While Halpin’s speed often draws attention, Vogt said his jumps, routes and arm strength allow him to make difficult plays look routine.

“I think Petey’s an elite outfielder,” Vogt said. “He gets to some fly balls pretty easily that most people would be catching on the run. He gets really good jumps, he has a very strong arm and it’s accurate.”

The throw to nail Acuña represented the complete package. It arrived precisely where it needed to be for catcher Austin Hedges to apply the tag.

“Those plays aren’t easy,” Vogt said. “You’re talking about a 230-, 250-foot throw that has to be right on the money.”

For all the arm-strength programs, long toss sessions and pregame drills, Maguire believes the key is that Halpin doesn’t chase highlight plays. Like stealing bases, he said, outfield assists come naturally when a player is prepared.

“We’re not chasing opportunities,” Maguire said. “We’re capitalizing on opportunities.”