Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB’s exit velocity kings: The 20 hardest-hit balls in 2021

By Kevin Henry

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 11, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 8-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 11, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 8-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge
Aug 14, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a home run during the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Giancarlo Stanton make an appearance on this section of the exit velocity leaderboard

16 (tie). Aaron Judge, October 3 vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 118.6 mph

This is the first on the list that has resulted in an out, with a smash to shortstop off the bat of Judge turning into a tailor-made double play.

14. Giancarlo Stanton, May 2 vs. Detroit Tigers, 118.8 mph

Want proof that a baseball doesn’t have to have launch angle to still have a high exit velocity? Look no further than this single off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton. A launch angle of negative-2 still resulted in a sharp single right up the middle.

13 (tie). Aaron Judge, June 16 vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 119.0 mph

What happens when one of the most powerful hitters in Major League Baseball gets a green light to swing on a 3-0 pitch? Ross Stripling and the Toronto Blue Jays found out on this single to left field off the bat of Aaron Judge.

13 (tie). Shohei Ohtani, April 12 vs. Kansas City Royals, 119.0 mph

Shohei Ohtani’s historic season had just gotten underway when the Los Angeles Angels visited Kansas City to take on the Royals in mid-April. Ohtani made his presence felt in an April 12 affair, taking a 1-1 pitch from Scott Barlow into right field for a two-run double.

This, by the way, is Ohtani’s only appearance on the leaderboard.

11. Giancarlo Stanton, August 23 vs. Atlanta Braves, 119.2 mph

If there’s one thing we learned from Stanton at-bats in 2021, it’s that he can take a pitch to left field faster than anyone else in the game. The devastating combination of bat speed and turning on the ball is once again shown here, as he takes a Huascar Ynoa pitch down in the zone and sends it screaming to left.

Home/MLB News