A new history of statcast created by ARI's giant gun, the 117.2km strongest fastball finish that overcame 167.2km

Aug 06, 2025

A new history of statcast created by ARI's giant gun, the 117.2km strongest fastball finish that overcame 167.2km
Arizona Diamondbacks Luerdes Gurriel Jr. is celebrating with Heraldo Perdomo after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on the 6th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News



A new history of statcast created by ARI's giant gun, the 117.2km strongest fastball finish that overcame 167.2km
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. AP Yonhap News
How fast do I have to swing it.

Arizona Diamondbacks Luerdes Gurriel Jr. hit a fastball well over 103 miles to create a home run.

Gurriel played as the fourth designated hitter in the home game against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on the 6th (Korea time), and hit two hits, four RBIs and two runs in five at-bats, including two homers.




Both hits were home runs, but in the bottom of the first inning, San Diego starter Darvish Yu pulled a high sweeper in the middle of the first inning and crossed the left fence, and in the eighth inning, trailing 3-5, he hit a two-run shot with two outs and first base to tie the game 5-5.

But the second home run made a historic record. The opposing pitcher is right-hander Mason Miller, who throws the fastest fastball.

Gurriel Jr. pulled a fastball that flew into the middle of Miller's 7th pitch 103.9 miles (about 167.2 kilometers) well over the left fence. It was a large arch with a launch angle of 29 degrees, a batting speed of 107.1 miles, and a distance of 439 feet. 14th home run of the season. It hit the fastball correctly.




A new history of statcast created by ARI's giant gun, the 117.2km strongest fastball finish that overcame 167.2km
San Diego Padres Mason Miller. AP Yonhap News
Miller's fastball was recorded as the fastest ball to allow a home run since Statcast began measuring pitch speed in 2008. The previous record was 103.2 miles on a fastball by Chicago Cubs Ian Happ in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Athletics on September 18 last year. Coincidentally, Miller was the pitcher who threw the ball.

Miller changed his uniform from the Athletics to San Diego through a trade on the 1st. He made 48 saves last year and this year for the Athletics. In San Diego, he plays the role of a setup man.

Miller is the pitcher who threw the most balls over 100 miles this season. He has played 285 four-seam fastballs over 100 miles so far. This is 91 more than second-ranked Colorado Rockies Seth Halborsen (194). He threw nearly twice as many balls as Aroldis Chapman (147), the Boston Red Sox's synonymous fastball.




His average fastball speed is also 101.2 miles, ranking first by far. Gurriel Jr. scored a huge home run against him. Gurriel Jr.'s bat speed was 72.8 miles (117.2 kilometers) when he hit the home run. It was the 28th fastest among bat speeds swung by hitters from both teams on the day.

In other words, it is not Gurriel Jr.'s bat speed that overwhelmed Miller's fastball, but because of his accurate barrel ability to hit the center of the bat.

However, Arizona blew a tiebreaking home run by Gurriel Jr. and knelt 5-10 after 10 extra innings.

After the game, Gurriel Jr. said, `What's really meaningful is that the home run brought the game to square one. That's the most important thing. Unfortunately, however, we did not connect with victory. I was happy to hit the home run in itself."





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.