Pirates rookie Oneil Cruz sets Statcast record for hardest hit with 122.4-mph single

When Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz blistered a baseball at an exit velocity of 122.4 mph against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, it smashed a major-league record for the hardest hit in the Statcast era.

Believe it or not, Cruz didn’t clear the fence.

Cruz crushed Kyle Wright’s first-pitch slider for a single with two outs in the third inning of Wednesday’s 14-2 loss to the Braves, driving it 366 feet and off the top of the 21-foot Clemente Wall at PNC Park.

“At the moment, I didn’t even think I hit the ball that hard,” Cruz said through translator Mike Gonzalez. “When I came into the dugout, some of my teammates shared with me that I hit it 122 (mph). I smiled, but deep down inside I was like, ‘Wow, I really hit that ball hard.’ Now, finding out that I broke a record, it means a lot to me. That’s something positive to take away from today’s game.”

Cruz, who has 10 home runs this season, was surprised his 122.4 mph hit didn’t clear the fence. Per MLB.com, it would have been a home run in 26 ballparks. If only Clemente had worn a number in the teens instead of No. 21.

“I didn’t know I hit the ball that hard, but I did know that I connected with it very well,” Cruz said. “To be honest with you, I did think it was going to go out, but I did notice that it was starting to go down and about to hit the fence. That’s when I started running even harder. But I did expect it to go out. I didn’t expect it to hit the wall and come right back.”

122.4 MPH exit velocity! ????

Oneil Cruz just hit the hardest-hit batted ball in Statcast era history! pic.twitter.com/bC9loelBoG

— MLB (@MLB) August 24, 2022

That’s the hardest hit in the Statcast era (since 2015), breaking the mark of 122.2 mph twice achieved by Giancarlo Stanton. While playing for the Miami Marlins, Stanton did it on Oct. 1, 2017. He did it again for the New York Yankees against the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 9, 2021.

The 6-foot-7 rookie shortstop now owns the three hardest hits in Pirates’ Statcast history — all on singles at PNC Park. The first came on Cruz’s first major-league hit, a single to right to spark a six-run rally in an 8-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Oct. 2. Cruz broke the team record when he smacked a 118.4 mph single in the third inning of a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 4.

More Oneil Cruz news:

• Pirates rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz searches for consistency amid struggles at the plate

• ‘I’m going to swing it hard’: Pirates SS Oneil Cruz producing eye-popping exit velocities

• Top prospect Oneil Cruz sparks Pirates to 6-run rally, beat Reds in major league debut

This one hit different, and his Pirates teammates couldn’t help but notice.

“Off the bat, it sounded like a bomb went off,” Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller said. “It was crazy. I don’t even know how he does it. I can’t explain. But if it was like a foot higher, it would have been even better. Probably one of the hardest-hit singles I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes said Cruz, as he continues to mature and face more major league pitching, “has a chance to be the best hitter in baseball.”

“A lot times, when he hits the ball we’re in shock,” Hayes said. “Sometimes, he’ll hit a ball one-handed at 110. Other guys, we’re about to poop on oursevles trying to hit the ball that hard.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton on rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz setting a new Statcast exit velocity record with a 122.4-mph single off the top of the Clemente Wall against the Atlanta Braves. pic.twitter.com/0jX1bQjq6q

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) August 24, 2022

Pirates manager Derek Shelton noted that Cruz, who went 1 for 4, nearly homered in the first inning when he ripped one down the right-field line that sailed foul. Cruz straightened this one out, falling just shy of clearing the fence.

“He hit it hard. It was just a matter of if it was going to get out or not,” Shelton said. “I think it hit right underneath on the sign, but, yeah, that ball was scorched. It was a good swing by him. Really good swing, really encouraging.”

Braves manager Brian Snitker was impressed by Cruz’s display of power, calling the 23-year-old Cruz a “talented kid” and marveling at how hard the line drive was hit and how dangerous it could have been if it had gone over.

“Oh, my God. It’s probably good that ball hit a wall because it might have hurt somebody if it had been up a little higher,” Snitker said. “I saw him in spring training. He’s got skills. My God. As he gets experience and learns and all that … you start grading tools, and it’s off the charts for a big guy. I mean, that’s going to be fun to watch.”