PHOENIX – Arizona manager Torey Lovullo has often said that Tim Locastro is the fastest man in the majors. You don’t have to take his word for it – the MLB The Show video game agrees.
“It has a rating of 99,” Lovullo said, smiling.
Locastro showed that speed on Saturday-evening with four hits and a stolen base that broke a Major League-record and helped the Arizona Diamondbacks cool the Cincinnati Reds, 8-3.
Locastro’s stealing of the second in the sixth inning was the 28th consecutive stolen base to start his career without getting caught. That broke the goal of Hall of Famer Tim Raines, who stole 27 in a row between 1979 and 1981. Records have been kept since 1951. The Baseball Hall of Fame asked for the Locastro cleats, which he had painted especially for the occasion.
Locastro, 28, grew up in upstate New York near the Cooperstown Hall of Fame venue.
“Having my stallions in it is incredible,” said Locastro.
Locastro may have been destined to break the record. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 and his first baserunning coach that year was none other than Raines.
He showed more than just speed on Saturday-evening, with four basehits and two runs from first place. Locastro’s playing time in midfield has increased after Ketel Marte recently entered the disabled list with a hamstring injury.
“It’s not just fast,” said Lovullo. “He’s a good baseball player who has learned to hit.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.