Let’s take a look the 10 hardest hit balls in MLB for the week! Data is per Statcast, through Sunday games.
10. Adolis Garcia – 113.6 MPH
In a Monday night contest overshadowed by some Elly De La Cruz magic, Garcia ripped a Brady Singer sinker into left field for a double on this one, clocking in with a bat speed of 81.1MPH and an xBA of .740.
9. Luis Robert Jr. – 113.8 MPH
Friday night’s White Sox/Tigers tilt produced two of the hardest hit balls of the week. LouBob’s effort didn’t fare as well as the other one, but was absolutely smoked nonetheless – a lineout to left in the sixth on a Jack Flaherty slide piece that hung a bit. This missile had an xBA of .740, with a bat speed of 82.5.
8. Seiya Suzuki – 114.3 MPH
Another lineout on this list (yawn), Suzuki drilled this shot to third off Randy Vasquez (sinker) in the third frame Friday night. Seiya continues to hit the ball well so far this season, as this one had a bat speed of 78.8 MPH, an xBA of .740, and a little pee in the pants for Manny Machado.
7. Riley Greene – 114.3 MPH
Remember that White Sox/Tigers tilt I mentioned earlier? Welp, we’re back! Riley Greene drilled this monster 417 feet into the right field stands. Elite bat speed (81.3), this tater would have been outta 30/30 ballparks. Bryce Wilson and I could only watch in regret. Why didn’t his cutter cut?
6. Pete Alonso – 114.5 MPH
The insanity of this entry is that it was one of three (yes, three) balls that Pete the Bat hit OVER 113 MPH in this game against Miami from Wednesday. Two (including this one) went for doubles, while the other cleared the fence. This laser traveled 291 feet to center field with an xBA of .880.
5. James Wood – 115.3 MPH
Wood is swinging that bat well so far this season, with 93rd percentiles in both hard-hit % (61.1) and bat speed (75.8). This seed was a single on a Jeff Hoffman four-seamer in the ninth stanza Wednesday that got through for a single to right with an xBA of .750, generated by a bat speed of 81.8 MPH.
4. Ketel Marte – 115.5 MPH
Would it surprise you to know Marte’s Statcast page is blood red in a number of hitting metrics to start 2025? Me neither. While this one was a lineout, any ball that tops 115 MPH is significant. Ketel was first-pitch swinging (bat speed of 77.8) against Carlos Rodon (four-seamer) in the fifth inning of this Wednesday affair, and this ball had an xBA of .700.
3. Jordan Walker – 115.8 MPH
Dudes. Jordan Walker is murdering baseballs this season. Second week in a row he is in the top three on this list (and he’s not the only one). If buddy could just lift the ball a bit (this one had a negative-3 launch angle, and only 9.0 on the year), these will start going over the fence regularly. Already 100th percentile in bat speed, this one from Wednesday clocked in at 82.6 MPH. Translation – elite bat speed equals elite exit velos (when you connect). Tiny little xBA (.480), though, on this single in the eighth.
2. Corbin Carroll – 115.8 MPH
Speaking of repeat performers, I’m starting to regret passing on Corbin Carroll everywhere in my leagues. I’m here to say the shoulder is good to go. With multiple balls hit over 100.0 MPH this week, this one that led off Sunday’s game against the Nationals tops the list. Two pitches into the game and Carroll rips this triple down the line to right courtesy of a Trevor Williams four-seamer. Great bat speed (78.7) with an xBA of .730.
1. Jhonkensy Noel – 116.1 MPH
For the second week, the entry that tops this list goes for over 116 MPH. Noel is a masher, plain and simple, with immense raw power (80-grade). He just got on top of this grounder to short in the fourth frame Sunday for an easy 6-3 put out, but mannnnn it was a seed. Elite bat speed (80.8), this was the result of a pretty decent Tyler Anderson four-seamer that left Noel no other options. Still… 116.1 clocks in as the third hardest hit ball all season.