Pirates rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz smashes the hardest hit ball in recorded history at 122.4mph
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Pirates rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz smashes the hardest hit ball in recorded history at 122.4mph one month after setting another mark by throwing a 97.8 mph bullet to first base
- Pirates rookie Oneil Cruz hit a ball 122.4mph against the Braves on Wednesday
- The ball had the highest exit velocity of any hit in the Statcast era (since 2015)
- The next four top exit velocities were all held by the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton
- Cruz, 23, also set a Statcast mark with a 97.8 mph infield assist from shortstop
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Oneil Cruz’s impressive rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates continues to push Statcast to its limits.
The high-tech statistical tool used to capture the game’s every measurable was put to the test at PNC Park on Wednesday, when the 6-foot-7 Dominican shortstop slugged the hardest hit baseball in recorded history: 122.4mph.
Oneil Cruz is not only the tallest shortstop in baseball history at 6-foot-7, but he’s also recorded the highest exit velocity and the fastest infield assistant in the Statcast era (since 2015)
Atlanta Braves starter Kyle Wright, left, pitches to Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz during the first inning on Wednesday. He would later set a record for exit velocity in the third inning
Cruz’s record on Wednesday came in the third inning off of Braves pitcher Kyle Wright when the left-handed hitter ripped a first-pitch slider off the right-field wall.
Unfortunately, he may have hit the ball too hard, and Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuña easily gathered the ricochet and relayed the throw to the infield to prevent Cruz from reaching second.
The ball would have been a home run in 26 ballparks, according MLB.com’s Statcast.
The hit was one of Pittsburgh’s lone highlights during Wednesday’s 14-2 loss to the surging Braves. And while Cruz’s single was impressive, his hits have been few and far between this year. The 23-year-old is batting only .199 in 2022 while striking out 79 times and recording only 13 walks.
The previous four records were held by New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, all between 122.2mph and 121.3mph. In fact, Stanton has recorded 16 of the top 21 exist velocities
But while traditional statistics paint a disappointing picture of Cruz’s rookie season, he has impressed on Statcast.
Earlier in the season, Cruz recorded the fastest infield assist ever tracked by Statcast with a 97.8mph throw from shortstop to beat Miami Marlins third baseman Luke Williams at first.
And his feet are just as impressive as his arm. Cruz once hit 31.5mph on the base paths, according to USA Today.
Lastly, Cruz is the tallest shortstop in Major League history at 6-foot-7.
If you’re seeing this on your way to first base, you’re probably going to be called out