Pirates' Oneil Cruz Hits Hardest MLB Ball in Statcast Era

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz set a new MLB record for the hardest-hit ball in the Statcast era with a home run that left the bat at 122.9 mph, surpassing his own previous record of 122.4 mph. This historic solo home run came off a 92.2 mph fastball from Milwaukee's Logan Henderson, traveled 432 feet, and landed in the Allegheny River at PNC Park. Cruz's record-breaking hit eclipsed the prior hardest-hit home run by Giancarlo Stanton, which was recorded at 121.7 mph in 2018. With 11 home runs this season, including three in his last three games, Cruz leads the Pirates and has hit six of the 83 home runs into the river since PNC Park opened in 2001. Known for his rare combination of power and speed, Cruz's performance highlights his impact despite some inconsistency in his swing. His record-breaking hit is a testament to his extraordinary raw power in modern baseball.