Last week, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies played Home Run Derby in Philly, combining for an MLB record of 13 home runs in one game.
The Diamondbacks smacked eight of the taters (a team record) in their 13-8 win over the Phillies, including three straight home runs to open the game.
Most years, that would have been big news as home runs records in baseball have traditionally been a big deal. But, thanks to the way the ball is leaving the yard this season, now it appears those records are less newsworthy because they’re made to be broken.
As of June 15, MLB teams are averaging 1.36 home runs per game this season, a mark that would shatter the all-time record of 1.26 set in 2017. If that pace keeps up, MLBers will crush nearly 6,600 home runs this season, obliterating the previous record of 6,105 which was set in 2017 by more than 8 percent.
Also set to be shattered: the Yankees’ record for most team home runs (267) which was set last season. This year, three teams are on pace to break that record with the Twins are on pace for 317, the Mariners on pace for 291 and the Brewers on pace for 284.
While it’s like the Mariners will fall off that pace after trading AL home run leader Edwin Encarnación to the Yankees over the weekend, New York should have no problem picking up the slack with Encarnación now in the fold.
Also, in addition to Encarnación (21), Christian Yelich (26), Hunter Renfroe (23), Cody Bellinger (23) and Pete Alonso (23) all have a chance at hitting 50 homers this season. At least four players haven’t topped 50 home runs since Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Luis Gonzalez and Alex Rodriguez did it in 2001.
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