Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz hits a single against the Giants during the first inning at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
In a game that will be remembered for years to come, Oneil Cruz, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ shortstop, made baseball history as he blasted two hits harder than 120 mph, a feat unlike any other in the record books.
The Unprecedented Game
The game took place on Tuesday, against the San Francisco Giants. The Pirates were trailing by four runs in the ninth inning. However, thanks to Cruz’s almost unmatched ability to hit the ball hard, the Pirates managed to erase the deficit and walked off with a 7-6 win in 10 innings. The hero of the match was rookie infielder Nick Gonzales, who secured the victory with a walk-off single.
Cruz’s Record-Breaking Hits
Cruz did something that no player had ever done in the Statcast era (since 2015) and perhaps never before in baseball history. He hit two balls with a 120 mph exit velocity. The first hit, a line drive, clocked in at 120.4 mph and resulted in a first-inning single. The second hit was an astounding 121.5 mph laser that tied the game with two outs in the ninth inning.
People hold the 120 mph exit velocity threshold in high regard. Only a handful of players can hit a baseball that hard, and have done so. Oneil Cruz not only set a record as the first player to hit two 120 mph batted balls in a single game, but he also joined the exclusive club of players who have hit multiple 120 mph batted balls in their careers.
Cruz’s Unmatched Ability
Oneil Cruz’s 120 mph batted balls are the two hardest-hit balls in baseball this season. Here are the players who’ve hit a ball 120 mph since Statcast launched in 2015:
- Giancarlo Stanton: 14 times
- Oneil Cruz: 3 times (includes Tuesday)
- Ronald Acuña Jr.: 1 time
- Aaron Judge: 1 time
- Gary Sánchez: 1 time
There have been 20 batted balls at 120 mph in the Statcast era, and two of them came from one player on Tuesday. Also, Cruz had a 116.3 mph double earlier in Tuesday’s game. He’s the first player with three 116 mph batted balls in a single game.
Cruz’s Impact on the Pirates
Cruz went 3 for 5 with a double on Tuesday and is 17 for 53 (.321) with seven doubles and three home runs in his last 13 games. His season batting line sits at .260/.303/.441. Tuesday’s win gave the Pirates and Giants identical 23-26 records.
Oneil Cruz’s performance on Tuesday night was a testament to his special, unteachable skill. Either you can hit the ball this hard, or you can’t, and Cruz can. His ability to crush the ball has made him a standout player in the league and a key asset to the Pittsburgh Pirates. His record-breaking hits have not only rewritten the baseball record books but also showcased the exciting potential of the sport’s future.
