The Chicago Cubs have fallen out of the playoff picture in the National League, but the team is still fighting to ensure they at least finish the season above .500.
Leading the charge, as always, is Ian Happ who continues to put forth another strong year, and the star outfielder hit a historic home run on Tuesday night to tie his career high with 25 bombs on the year.
In Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics, Happ stepped up to the plate in the ninth inning to face off against star young closer Mason Miller and promptly took a 103.2 mph fastball deep to left field for his second home run of the game, and it was also the fastest pitch hit for a home run in the pitch-tracking era.
At 103.2 MPH, Ian Happ hit the fastest pitch for a home run in the pitch-tracking era last night 🤯
(h/t @SlangsOnSports)pic.twitter.com/DUhz4YBsVI
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 18, 2024
It was just the seventh homer Miller has given up in 98 innings of work in his career thus far and the second in the month of September after not surrendering a single round-tripper since June 12th.
The home run established a new career high with 85 RBIs for Happ, who up until the home run had already seen two heaters, a pair of changeups, and fouled off a slider from Miller.
Happ has 23 homers and 71 RBIs over his last 100 games following his slow start to the season.
The previous record for the fastest pitch hit out of the ballpark in the pitch-tracking era was the 102.9 mph Aroldis Chapman fastball that Josh Bell hit out on August 2nd.
Happ also had the previous Cubs record when he hit a 100.7 mph Ryan Helsley fastball out of the yard on May 26th.
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