Wind at Wrigley Field Alters Potential Home Run by Over 100 Feet
Wind at Wrigley Field Alters Potential Home Run by Over 100 Feet
US · Published Mar 28, 2026
Significant wind at Wrigley Field altered a potential Ian Happ home run by 113 feet.
The wind effect was the most significant in the Weather Applied Metrics database over the past three seasons.
The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of weather's impact on baseball games.
Wind dramatically alters Happ's potential home run
During the Chicago Cubs' Opening Day game, a significant wind at Wrigley Field dramatically altered the trajectory of a potential home run hit by outfielder Ian Happ. MLB metrics indicated that Happ's fly ball, struck at 108.5 MPH with a 32-degree launch angle, was expected to travel 435 feet. However, the wind pushed the ball back by 113 feet, resulting in a final distance of 322 feet, where it was caught by Nationals outfielder James Wood.
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