Cincinnati Reds outfielder Sal Stewart hit a home run off a 105.5 mph fastball, setting a new Statcast era record [1].
The achievement marks a significant milestone in baseball physics, as it is the fastest pitch ever recorded to result in a home run since the implementation of Statcast tracking [1].
The record-breaking play occurred at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio [1]. Stewart faced pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who delivered the 105.5 mph fastball [1]. The extreme velocity of the pitch made it the hardest ball to react to in the era, yet Stewart managed to drive it for a historic distance and speed record [1].
Statcast technology allows Major League Baseball to track the precise velocity and trajectory of every pitch. While many pitchers reach triple-digit speeds, very few home runs are hit off pitches exceeding 100 mph due to the limited reaction time available to the batter [1].
This event took place in June 2024 [1]. The combination of Misiorowski's elite arm strength and Stewart's timing created a rare intersection of power and speed that had not been captured by tracking software previously [1].
“Sal Stewart hit a home run off a 105.5 mph fastball.”
This record highlights the increasing ceiling of pitcher velocity in professional baseball and the corresponding ability of hitters to adjust to extreme speeds. By surpassing previous benchmarks, Stewart's home run provides a new data point for analysts studying the limits of human reaction time and bat speed in the modern game.
