Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hits the fastest home run in MLB history off a 103.9 mph pitch
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 06, 2025, 20:21 IST
( Image credit : Reuters )
Highlight of the story: Lourdes Gurriel Junior made MLB history. He hit a home run off a 103.9 mph fastball. Mason Miller threw the pitch. It was the fastest pitch ever hit for a home run since 2008. Gurriel hit two home runs in the game. However, the Padres beat the Diamondbacks in extra innings. Miller was recently traded to San Diego.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made Major League Baseball history Tuesday night, launching a 103.9 mph fastball from San Diego Padres reliever Mason Miller into the left-field seats for a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning.
According to MLB’s Statcast data, it was the fastest pitch ever hit for a home run since pitch tracking began in 2008.
“It’s something that just happened,” Gurriel said postgame through a translator. “It’s not that easy.”
The historic blast was part of a two-homer performance for Gurriel, who also connected for a two-run shot in the first inning. Despite his efforts, the Padres ultimately prevailed in extra innings, defeating the Diamondbacks 10-5 in 11 frames.
Miller, one of the league’s premier fireballers, was acquired by San Diego from the Oakland Athletics at last week’s trade deadline. The 25-year-old routinely exceeds 100 mph on the radar gun and touched 104.2 mph with his hardest pitch of the night.
“It was loud contact,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We know Mason Miller's got a big arm. It's a massive arm and he's going to challenge you with it. Our hitter was ready.”
Miller entered the game in the eighth to protect a 5-3 Padres lead, but surrendered the game-tying blast to Gurriel, highlighting the volatility of high-velocity pitching when not precisely located.
The Padres eventually regained control, scoring five unanswered runs in the 11th to seal the win.
Gurriel, 30, now has 17 home runs on the season and continues to play a pivotal role in Arizona’s offense as the club chases a postseason berth. His milestone moment adds to a season in which power and velocity continue to define the modern game — and occasionally collide in record-breaking fashion.
According to MLB’s Statcast data, it was the fastest pitch ever hit for a home run since pitch tracking began in 2008.
“It’s something that just happened,” Gurriel said postgame through a translator. “It’s not that easy.”
The historic blast was part of a two-homer performance for Gurriel, who also connected for a two-run shot in the first inning. Despite his efforts, the Padres ultimately prevailed in extra innings, defeating the Diamondbacks 10-5 in 11 frames.
Miller, one of the league’s premier fireballers, was acquired by San Diego from the Oakland Athletics at last week’s trade deadline. The 25-year-old routinely exceeds 100 mph on the radar gun and touched 104.2 mph with his hardest pitch of the night.
“It was loud contact,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We know Mason Miller's got a big arm. It's a massive arm and he's going to challenge you with it. Our hitter was ready.”
Miller entered the game in the eighth to protect a 5-3 Padres lead, but surrendered the game-tying blast to Gurriel, highlighting the volatility of high-velocity pitching when not precisely located.
The Padres eventually regained control, scoring five unanswered runs in the 11th to seal the win.
Gurriel, 30, now has 17 home runs on the season and continues to play a pivotal role in Arizona’s offense as the club chases a postseason berth. His milestone moment adds to a season in which power and velocity continue to define the modern game — and occasionally collide in record-breaking fashion.