Watch Oneil Cruz Crush 121-MPH Homer in Pirates Comeback Win — Must-See Highlights

Pittsburgh — Oneil Cruz just added another entry to baseball’s record books, demolishing a 122.9 mph solo shot to right field in the third inning of Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. According to Statcast, the blast is now the hardest-hit ball ever recorded, eclipsing Cruz’s own 122.4 mph laser from 2022 and surpassing Giancarlo Stanton’s 122.2 mph mark from 2021. The 6-foot-7 shortstop launched the 432-foot missile on a first-pitch sinker from left-hander Tyler Alexander, sending PNC Park into frenzy and staking the Pirates to an early 1-0 lead. Cruz’s homer was his 11th of the season—nearly double the total of any other Pittsburgh hitter—and raised his slash line to .243/.319/.547 through 50 games. Sunday’s fireworks capped a statement weekend for the 26-year-old. On Saturday night he delivered a two-out RBI triple in the seventh to beat Milwaukee 2-1, then kept a clubhouse promise by handing the game-used bat to an awestruck young fan behind the dugout. Two days, two game-changing swings, and now one new Statcast milestone. Manager Derek Shelton wasn’t surprised. “When he squares it, the numbers get silly,” Shelton said postgame. “But more important is the timing—he’s coming through in winning moments.” Cruz’s surge comes a year after he missed most of 2023 with a fractured left ankle and spent 2024 rediscovering his timing. The Pirates invested heavily in refining his plate discipline over the winter, and early returns suggest progress: Cruz’s chase rate is down four percentage points, while his walk rate has climbed to a career-best 9.7 percent. Beyond the gaudy exit velocity, the homer carries broader implications for a Pittsburgh club chasing its first winning season since 2018. Sunday’s victory moved the Pirates (28-22) within one game of the division-leading Chicago Cubs and pushed their record to 13-6 when Cruz drives in a run. Statcast’s leaderboard now reads like a personal résumé: hardest-hit ball, two of the top five exit velocities ever, and six of the top 20 in 2025 alone. Yet Cruz insists he’s focused on more than radar-gun readings. “I just want to help us play in October,” he said via interpreter Mike González. “If the ball goes 120, great—but wins are better.” Next up, the Pirates open a three-game set against the Dodgers on Tuesday, and Los Angeles has already tabbed fireballer Bobby Miller for the opener. Given Cruz’s weekend theatrics, another velocity showdown could be looming. Key takeaways for fans and fantasy managers alike: Cruz is healthy, his strike-zone judgment is improving, and his raw power remains unrivaled. As long as those trends hold, exit-velocity records—and opposing pitchers—may not stand a chance.