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Watch: Pirates Oneil Cruz smashes 115.8 MPH HR vs. Blue Jays
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Pirates rookie Oneil Cruz smashes 115.8 MPH line-drive HR vs. Blue Jays

By Mike Santa Barbara  |  Last updated Sep 4, 2022 5:07 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates called up top prospect Oneil Cruz in late June, and since then, the shortstop has gained a powerful reputation. 

Only months into his MLB career, Cruz is considered one of the league's hardest hitters at the plate. 

On Sunday, he lived up to his rep, smashing a line-drive home run to left centerfield off Toronto Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling. Cruz's long-ball traveled 427 feet with an exit velocity clocked at 115.8 mph. 

Last month, Cruz made history after posting the highest recorded exit velocity since Statcast began to keep track. On August 24, Cruz hit a 122.4 laser for a single against the Atlanta Braves, topping the previous high of 122.2 mph achieved by New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton in 2021. 

Cruz owns the top-ten hardest-hit balls for the Pirates this season. Sunday's home run ranks as the 24-year-old's fifth hardest-hit ball of the 2022 campaign. 

Cruz has 12 home runs and 37 RBI through 61 games for the Pirates while slashing .204/.256/.422 

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on X at @mike__sb

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