Chicago Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber is handling the pressure of Wednesday's one-game playoff just fine. If only the same could be said for the baseballs crossing his path.
Two innings after opening the scoring with an RBI single to left, Schwarber unloaded on Gerrit Cole's 2-1 offering in the third, unleashing a 450-foot moonshot out of PNC Park and into the river to give the Cubs an early 3-0 wild-card lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Schwarber's two-run shot traveled at an exit speed of 112 mph, according to MLB Statcast, making the pivotal blast his hardest-hit homer of the year. He's also the second youngest player in MLB history with a home run and three RBIs in his playoffs debut.
The hulking 22-year-old, who hit 16 homers in 69 games this season, is making just his third career start in right field.
The rookie's three RBIs staked Cubs ace Jake Arrieta to a 3-0 lead through three innings.
