How does the energy transfer from a single gamma ray compare to that of a thrown baseball?

The gamma ray transfers energy via ionization, whereas the baseball transfers momentum causing blunt trauma

The comparison highlights the fundamental difference between radiation energy transfer and mechanical energy transfer. A thrown baseball transfers its energy primarily through momentum, resulting in macroscopic physical trauma (blunt force). Conversely, a gamma ray, despite potentially carrying equivalent kinetic energy in a hypothetical scenario, deposits its energy at the molecular level through the process of ionization, knocking electrons loose. This results in intense chemical damage localized to a few molecules, which is biochemically distinct from the physical impact of a projectile.