The 10 Longest Home Run Blasts of the 2013 Season
For anyone who was concerned that Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels would not be able to match his incredible rookie season following a slow first month of the season, his recent performances should put an end to any doubt.
Just two games after the 21-year-old hit for the cycle, Trout continued with his outstanding month of May by blasting one of the longest home runs of the 2013 season against the Kansas City Royals.
After 226 career games, Trout already ranks among the league’s best players. But where does his home run rank among the biggest blasts this season?
Let’s take a look at the 10 longest home run blasts of the 2013 season.
*All statistics and supporting information courtesy of ESPN.com, while information on each home run can be found at ESPN Home Run Tracker.
Honorable Mention: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels, Kauffman Stadium
1 of 11Date: May 23rd, 1st inning
Pitcher: Ervin Santana, Kansas City Royals
Total Distance: 463 feet
In an Angels’ lineup full of high priced talent, Mike Trout continues to add to a legacy that is already among the greatest in the league, despite his still playing just one full major league season.
On May 23, just two days after hitting for the cycle against the Seattle Mariners, Trout took Royals’ pitcher Ervin Santana deep as the second batter of the game. On an 0-1 count, Trout launched his 10th home run of the season to one of the deepest parts of Kauffman Stadium to give the Angels an early lead.
The home run wasn’t just impressive to watch, but it was also the longest of Trout’s already historic career.
10. Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants, At&T Park
2 of 11Date: May 21st, 10th inning
Pitcher: Yunesky Maya, Washington Nationals
Total Distance: 464 feet
It’s one thing for a player to hit one of the longest blasts of the season. It’s another when the blast is a walk-off home run that comes off the bat of a player with flu-like symptoms.
That was the scene on May 21 when Pablo Sandoval smashed a two-run home run in the 10th inning off Yunesky Maya of the Washington Nationals. The home run was his second hit of the game, and his eighth home run of the season.
The home run was also the longest walk-off home run in the major leagues during the past eight seasons.
9. J.D. Martinez, Houston Astros, Comerica Park
3 of 11Date: May 15th, 4th inning
Pitcher: Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers
Total Distance: 464 feet
Not much has gone right for the Houston Astros this season, but J.D. Martinez’s 464-foot home run off Max Scherzer helped the Astros avoid a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers.
Martinez’s three-run home run gave the Astros the lead, and was also the longest home run hit at Comerica Park this season at the time. The home run to left-center field was just his third of the season, but has been a bright spot for an Astros team that is going through a rough adjustment period to the American League.
Although he has hit only four home runs this season, his last two have come off of Scherzer and James Shields, two of the better pitchers he’s faced this season.
8. David Wright, New York Mets, Turner Field
4 of 11Date: May 3rd, 9th inning
Pitcher: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
Total Distance: 464 feet
If there was any question as to whether David Wright thrives off of pressure situations, he answered it on May 3 against Craig Kimbrel and the Atlanta Braves.
Against one of the best closers in baseball, Wright took Kimbrel deep in the ninth inning to tie the game for the New York Mets and setup an extra inning victory. The at-bat featured one of the NL East’s best hitters against one of the league’s most dominant closers, and resulted in a blast towards right-center field.
The home run saw Wright take a fastball yard while Kimbrel blew just his 13th career save opportunity.
7. Colby Rasmus, Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre
5 of 11Date: May 21st, 5th inning,
Pitcher: Alex Cobb, Tampa Bay Rays
Total Distance: 465 feet
With players such as Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion with him in the lineup, it’s understandable if Colby Rasmus isn’t the first player that comes to mind when thinking of Toronto Blue Jays power hitters.
However, his name likely comes to mind pretty quickly for Alex Cobb following the fifth inning blast that Rasmus hit off of him to the third deck at the Rogers Centre. The Rays managed to maintain their lead and win the game, but Rasmus hit his second home run of more than 460 feet this season.
Considering that Cobb has a 2.73 ERA on the season, Rasmus’ long ball is even more impressive.
6. Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox, Rogers Centre
6 of 11Date: May 1st, 7th inning
Pitcher: Esmil Rogers, Toronto Blue Jays
Total Distance: 467 feet
If players want to see just how far they can hit a home run this season, it seems like the Rogers Centre is the place to give it a try.
No player knows this more than Mike Napoli, whose two home runs on May 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays rank among the longest blasts of the 2013 season. The latter of these home runs came off of Esmil Rogers for a three-run shot that added to an already impressive Red Sox lead.
Not bad for a player whose hip concerns this past offseason delayed his free agent deal.
5. Colby Rasmus, Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre
7 of 11Date: April 6th, 6th inning
Pitcher: Alfredo Aceves, Boston Red Sox
Total Distance: 468 feet
When the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox meet this season at the Rogers Centre, the deep blasts continue to fly.
Colby Rasmus has hit seven home runs this season, two of which rank among the longest home runs of the entire season. His longest, a 468-foot blast off Alfredo Aceves of the Boston Red Sox, was just his second of the season and padded an early season victory for the Toronto Blue Jays.
If you want to pick a Blue Jay with the best chances of hitting a home run, Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion may be your pick. If you want to pick who has the best chances of hitting the deepest blast, Colby Rasmus should be the early favorite.
4. Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds, Great American Ball Park
8 of 11Date: April 24th, 6th inning
Pitcher: Jeff Samardzija, Chicago Cubs
Total Distance: 470 feet
Todd Frazier’s batting average hasn’t matched the .273 mark he finished the 2012 season with, but his home run to straight away center field on April 24 remains as one of the longest and most impressive home runs of the season.
The home run eventually won the game for the Cincinnati Reds, and was the seventh longest home run in the history of Great American Ball Park.
Frazier hasn’t homered since, but it’s clear what the 27-year-old is capable of following his monster blast during the opening month of the season.
3. Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox, Rogers Centre
9 of 11Date: May 1st, 4th inning
Pitcher: Mark Buehrle, Toronto Blue Jays
Total Distance: 472 feet
Mike Napoli’s first home run on May 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays was a solo shot that gave the Boston Red Sox a 3-0 lead at the time.
With a 1-1 count, Napoli took Mark Buehrle deep to dead center for his fifth home run of the season. Following his second blast of the game in the seventh inning, Napoli became the only player in the past eight years to hit two home runs that traveled at least 460 feet in the same game.
Napoli has hit just one home run since his power outburst on May 1, but still has two home runs that rank among the 10 longest in the major leagues this season.
2. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field
10 of 11Date: April 18th, 3rd inning
Pitcher: Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers
Total Distance: 475 feet
We can’t be sure that Anthony Rizzo’s blast on April 18 convinced the Chicago Cubs to sign him to a seven-year, $41 million extension. But it certainly didn’t hurt.
The 23-year-old smacked his fourth home run of the season against Alexi Ogando and the Texas Rangers to right-center field and helped the Cubs take a 6-2 victory. Rizzo is currently tied for the fifth most home runs in the National League this season.
At this rate, Rizzo’s next contract could make his latest deal look like pocket change.
1. Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels, O.co Coliseum
11 of 11Date: April 29th, 2nd inning
Pitcher: Dan Straily, Oakland Athletics
Total Distance: 475 feet
You know a home run traveled far when even the fans sitting in the outfield have to turn around to see where it lands.
That was the scene on April 29 when Mark Trumbo took a 3-1 pitch towards left-center field for his fourth home run of the season. The ball landed past the outfield seats and added to the Angels early lead against the Oakland Athletics.
Mike Trout may have the most recent monster blast, and Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton are capable of making this list at any point. But for now, it’s Trumbo who has the deepest blast for the Angels, and the entire 2013 season.
