While the numbers haven’t been quite what Pirates fans would have liked from Oneil Cruz, the rookie shortstop has shown the ability to do things on the baseball field that simply have not been done before.
Cruz — a 6-foot-7 middle infielder — already holds the Statcast record (started in 2015) for the fastest-recorded throw from the infield at 97.8 mph. On Wednesday, it was time for Cruz to move atop the record list with his bat.
During the third inning against the Atlanta Braves, Cruz ripped a 122.4 mph line-drive single off the wall. It was the hardest-batted ball since Giancarlo Stanton’s 122.2 mph rocket of a double play in 2017.
Oneil Cruz
122.4 mph single
The hardest-hit ball in the Statcast era (since 2015)
You'll want to see and hear this. pic.twitter.com/Y4y7HHvOyX
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 24, 2022
This was a rare occasion where exit velocity somewhat limited the result for Cruz. He hit it so hard that the ball bounced quickly off the wall to Ronald Acuña Jr., holding Cruz to a long single.
Still, what a hit. And MLB fans were impressed with Cruz’s latest record-setting highlight.
This was how Twitter reacted
Oneil Cruz is straight out of the create-a-player feature in video games of 25 years ago:
• 6'7"
• 220 lbs
• Plays SS
• Bats lefty
• Throws 100
• 122.4 exit velo
• Has a name the announcer could say since there are already players named O'Neill and Cruz in the game https://t.co/6mjVeKfYsg— Not Gaetti (@notgaetti) August 24, 2022
122 off the bat is INSANE https://t.co/eqtlHCk2HX
— Trey Tiffany (@Trey_tiff) August 24, 2022
That thing sounds like a home run but ends up as a single 😵 https://t.co/lOlCkJyCIK
— Zach••• (@zachleft) August 24, 2022
Made in a lab https://t.co/H4wiYg3DSd
— Trevor Ellis (@EllisEra96) August 24, 2022
Oh my god https://t.co/fSstozwqf1
— Cabron James (@notkingjames019) August 24, 2022
I cannot believe a baseball player stronger than Giancarlo Stanton actually exists https://t.co/Ml53ZRyxLb
— Darius 🏳️🌈🪝 (@dstorms19) August 24, 2022
This man is special. https://t.co/46XReu8eLQ
— Mothsbroths24🕺🏽 (@Mothsbroths24) August 24, 2022
122mph is actually so crazy https://t.co/yAvKept2gb
— CJ (@Caleb_Jackson18) August 24, 2022
Dude is a freak of nature 🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/5rR4FmQ8qg
— Javi🕊 (@jRawww) August 24, 2022
It’s difficult to imagine a baseball ever getting hit harder.
