A dive into the Guardians' Statcast superlatives

CLEVELAND -- When a player launches a ball into an outfield concourse or a pitcher lights up a radar gun, one of the first questions that's always asked is, "Has that been done before?"

Since it began measuring in 2015, Statcast has allowed us to track nearly every aspect of the game to see who has hit the farthest homer, who has thrown the fastest pitch, who has hit the hardest ball and so many other fun statistics.

Here’s a guide to the best (and sometimes, the worst) of Cleveland's Statcast numbers, so that the next time a huge play happens in a game, you’ll be the first to know whether it has happened to a member of the team before.

Homers

Who has hit the hardest ball for a homer?
Jhonkensy Noel, 115.4 mph (June 29, 2024, at Royals)

Noel launched a home run in his first career Major League at-bat, and he continued to bring the thunder in his second start in the big leagues. The slugger crushed a slider from Royals starter Cole Ragans that got down the left-field line in a hurry, before the drive wrapped around the foul pole for a two-run homer. It helped Cleveland beat Kansas City, 7-2.

Who has hit a homer off the fastest pitch?
Oscar Mercado, 100.0 mph (Aug. 4, 2021, at Blue Jays)

The Rogers Centre crowd was loud and budding with anticipation. Toronto led Cleveland, 8-5, and Blue Jays right-hander Jordan Romano was one strike away from securing a victory. Mercado had other plans. He crushed a four-seamer at the top of the zone down the left-field line for a solo home run, generating a 100.6 mph exit velocity. The Jays ultimately secured an 8-6 win.

Who has recorded the highest launch angle for a homer?
Kyle Manzardo, 47 degrees (Sept. 24, 2024, vs Reds)

Manzardo’s fifth career big league home run was the epitome of a towering fly ball. He crushed a four-seamer from Reds right-hander Carson Spiers to right field, generating a 107.0 mph exit velocity and a 6.9-second hang time. Right fielder Jake Fraley gave chase before the drive landed several rows deep in the seats. Manzardo’s solo homer helped send the Guardians to a 6-1 win.

Who hit the highest pitch for a home run?
Franmil Reyes, 4.01 feet (Aug. 16, 2020, at Tigers)

You never want to catch too much of the plate when you’re facing someone like Reyes. Detroit’s Michael Fulmer made sure to stay out of the zone, but he still couldn’t avoid the wrath of Reyes’ bat. On Aug. 16, Reyes connected for the second-highest pitch for a homer in the Majors in 2020 as Cleveland picked up an 8-5 win.

Who hit the lowest pitch for a home run?
José Ramírez, 0.78 feet (Aug. 12, 2022, at Blue Jays)

Ramírez often finds a way to do something incredible or unexpected, and that certainly was the case against Toronto. Blue Jays starter José Berríos threw a two-out, 1-2 changeup that dove below the zone, and Ramírez managed to get his bat on it and golf it over the right-field wall for a three-run homer. The Guardians went on to win, 8-0.

Pitches

Who threw the fastest pitch?
Emmanuel Clase, 103.0 mph (Sept. 25, 2024, vs. Reds)

The Guardians led the Reds, 5-2, with two outs in the ninth inning, when Fraley stepped up to hit with the bases loaded. While he was able to foul off Clase's offering (an 0-2 cutter down and inside), Clase got him to ground into a game-ending force out moments later to secure Cleveland’s 5-2 win.

Who had the fastest strikeout pitch?
Emmanuel Clase, 102.2 mph (Aug. 11, 2024, vs. Twins)

Clase struck out Willi Castro on a foul tip, on a cutter down and inside. The right-hander then got Trevor Larnach to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play to preserve the Guardians' 5-3 win.

Outs

Who had the highest expected batting average on a ball that resulted in an out?
Tyler Naquin, .980 xBA (April 4, 2019, vs. Blue Jays)

Naquin served a fly ball into deep center field against the Blue Jays' Aaron Sanchez that traveled 389 feet, but it was run down by Randal Grichuk. Expected batting average is based on exit velocity and launch angle, comparing how similar batted balls have fared.

Hits

Who had the lowest expected batting average on a ball that resulted in a hit?
Oscar Mercado, .007 xBA (May 29, 2019, at Red Sox)

In Cleveland's 14-9 win over Boston, Mercado caught a break when Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt and right fielder Mookie Betts stopped and looked at each other on a short fly ball to shallow right field that typically would be expected to result in an out.

Who had the hardest-hit base hit?
Jhonkensy Noel, 117.2 mph (April 13, 2025, vs. Royals)

Noel led off the bottom of the second inning against Ragans, and he promptly smashed a first-pitch 95 mph four-seam fastball on the ground and past shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for a single.