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

By Kevin Henry

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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Shohei Ohtani has one of the best swings in baseball
May 16, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a two-run double during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Number 5

The top five MLB exit velocity numbers for the first half of the 2022 season belong to just two players — Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels and Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees.

We’ll kick off the top five at number five with Ohtani’s home run against the Seattle Mariners on June 25, which traveled 462 feet and left the bat at 118.0 mph.

Number 4

Stanton makes his second appearance on our list so far (and one of his four overall appearances on the list) with this single on May 10 against the Toronto Blue Jays with a single that recorded an exit velocity of 118.3 mph.

Number 3

The third-highest exit velocity of the season so far is also the only one our list that did not result in a hit. Stanton’s out against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 16 left the bat at 118.8 mph. It’s interesting because the exit velocity is so high while Stanton did not pull the ball.

Number 2

We’ve now crossed over into balls that came off the bat at more than 119 mph, and our first entrant into that list comes from Ohtani, who logged a hard-hit ground rule double against the Houston Astros on April 10. It was his first double of the season.

Number 1

The hardest-hit ball of the 2022 season so far comes off the bat of Stanton, who launched a home run against the Chicago Cubs on June 11 that left the bat at 119.8 mph.

As a note, the pitch that Stanton hit that hard came off the hand of Cubs pitcher Matt Swarmer at 81.4 mph, showing just how much bat speed Stanton generated with this home run.

Notice also the look on Swarmer’s face as he watches this pitch leave Yankee Stadium.

Next. The exit velocity kings of the 2021 season. dark

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