Exit velocity masters: MLB’s 12 hardest-hit balls of 2022’s first half

Jun 29, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA;New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) looks up at his three run home run during the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 29, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA;New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) looks up at his three run home run during the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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As the unofficial second half of the 2022 MLB season approaches and the All-Star Game is now in the rearview mirror, it’s a good time to look back at the first 92 games or so of the season and see which players had the highest exit velocity during their at-bats.

For this article, we will use Statcast numbers, which are based on the official MLB definition of exit velocity as, “Exit Velocity measures the speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.”

Which MLB players posted exit velocity numbers that made the top 10 during the first half of the 2022 season?

Number 10

We will start our list at number 10 with a three-way tie between Avisaíl Garcia of the Miami Marlins, Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves, and Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees. The trio of players each registered an exit velocity of 116.8 mph to form the deadlock.

Let’s start with Garcia and his 116.8-mph single against the Braves on April 23.

Speaking of the Braves, take a look at this 116.8-mph double off the bat of Olson on April 27 against the Chicago Cubs.

Finally, there’s Stanton, a name you will see plenty of throughout the list. The Cubs were also a victim of his on June 12 when he roped this 116.8-mph RBI double to right-center.