The Hardest Hit Ball of 2026

Oneil Cruz is at it again. The Pittsburgh Pirates slugger launched a 119 mph RBI double in the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on Thursday — the hardest-hit ball in the Majors this season according to Statcast.

Why It Matters

A 119 mph exit velocity surpasses most home runs in sheer raw force. With the MLB average hovering around 88–90 mph, Cruz's ball traveled at roughly 30 mph above the norm — a speed at which even optimal defensive positioning offers little help. In the era of data-driven baseball, exit velocity is one of the most reliable proxies for raw power and offensive production.

Cruz's All-Time Exit Velocity Resume

Impressive as Thursday's 119 mph was, it barely registers on Cruz's personal leaderboard. Since Statcast began tracking in 2015, Cruz holds the all-time MLB records for hardest-hit ball, hardest base hit, and hardest home run — all from a single 122.9 mph rocket off the Brewers on May 25 last year. His hardest double on record is also his own: a 121.5 mph two-bagger off the Giants on May 21, 2024, topping Thursday's mark by more than two mph.

What Cruz Represents

The 6-foot-7 Dominican-born infielder has carved out a unique identity in modern baseball — a player whose raw power metrics are considered generational by scouts and analysts alike. Thursday's double is simply the latest confirmation of a distinction that, at this point, belongs exclusively to him.