Major League Baseball's 30 Longest Bombs of the Year
To hit a home run in Major League Baseball—especially a no-doubter—is an impressive feat.
We've been treated to countless blasts in 2012, which is why I consulted the ESPN Home Run Tracker to determine the 30 longest bombs.
Greg Rybarczyk's "true distance" statistic estimates where a ball would have landed if its flight was uninterrupted. Within hours, his site answers the question of "how far it really went."
Several unaccomplished batters crashed this prestigious list, while household names like Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Curtis Granderson and Albert Pujols didn't make the cut.
After reading the descriptions, I strongly recommend clicking on the "watch it" links. Double rainbows, unicorns and live births pale in comparison to the beauty of these majestic shots.
Video clips courtesy of MLB.com
30. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (April 29)
1 of 30Opposing pitcher: Jordan Lyles
True distance: 451 feet
Venue: Great American Ballpark
These days, Joey Votto records more walks than extra-base hits. Like past MVP-caliber sluggers, he gets pitched to very carefully.
Votto doesn't see his fair share of hanging breaking balls, but he definitely appreciates the exceptions.
Putting a charge into this one has deterred the competition from challenging his might.
T-25. Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks (May 27)
2 of 30Opposing pitcher: Randy Wolf
True distance: 452 feet
Venue: Chase Field
An 88-mile-per-hour fastball should never be thrown over the middle of the plate. Definitely not at Chase Field when opposing a powerful batter like Paul Goldschmidt.
The young first baseman smacked this one to straight-away center field.
It was the 11th home run of his MLB career.
T-25. Jose Buatista, Toronto Blue Jays (May 23)
3 of 30Opposing pitcher: James Shields
Distance: 452 feet
Venue: Tropicana Field
Hall of Famer Willie Keeler had a famous mantra—"hit 'em where they ain't."
I doubt this is what the 140-pound speedster had in mind.
Jose Bautista pulled a three-one offering into the seats at Tropicana Field, easily 10 rows beyond the nearest Tampa Bay Rays fan.
In 2012, Bautista is chasing his third consecutive American League home run title.
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T-25. Cody Ransom, Arizona Diamondbacks (May 7)
4 of 30Opposing pitcher: J.C. Romero
True distance: 452 feet
Venue: Chase Field
J.C. Romero is helpless versus right-handed batters at this point of his career.
Journeyman Cody Ransom—whose stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks has already expired—appeared to be expecting this pitch.
It ended up 452 feet away in Friday's Sports Grill (probably in someone's salad).
T-25. Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles (April 15)
5 of 30Opposing pitcher: Kyle Drabek
True distance: 452 feet
Venue: Rogers Centre
Adam Jones has blasted four home runs at the Rogers Centre in 2012, but one was particularly memorable.
Left fielder Endy Chavez took only a couple steps before joining the fans in admiration.
Jones accounted for the first of seven runs that the Baltimore Orioles would score in the frame.
T-25. Michael Saunders, Seattle Mariners (April 27)
6 of 30Opposing pitcher: Francisco Cordero
True distance: 452 feet
Venue: Rogers Centre
A dozen days later, Toronto Blue Jays pitching allowed another mammoth shot. It clanked off the facade of the middle deck and caromed back onto the turf.
Michael Saunders ignited a comeback against Francisco Cordero.
The M's would eventually prevail in extra innings.
T-22. Chris Nelson, Colorado Rockies (June 1)
7 of 30Opposing pitcher: Josh Lindblom
True distance: 453 feet
Venue: Coors Field
The video of this longball—Chris Nelson's lone one on the season—does not do it justice. It came down merely six or seven rows beyond the center-field wall.
Realize, though, that he needed to hammer it 415 feet just to reach the seats. The dimensions at Coors Field are brutal, and Nelson still hit it out by plenty.
T-22. Josh Bell, Arizona Diamondbacks (May 22)
8 of 30Opposing pitcher: Aaron Harang
True distance: 453 feet
Venue: Chase Field
A victim of irregular playing time, it may be awhile before Josh Bell slugs another homer.
At least he didn't hold back on No. 1.
He and Arizona Diamondbacks analyst Mark Grace were expecting the same thing—a three-one fastball. And Bell put his best swing on it.
This belt-high pitch deserved to be crushed.
T-22. Wilin Rosario, Colorado Rockies (May 5)
9 of 30Opposing pitcher: Mike Minor
True distance: 453 feet
Venue: Coors Field
Mike Minor has been abused for an NL-high 14 home runs in his 11 starts. None were launched farther than Wilin Rosario's.
With two strikes, Minor wanted to put him away with an inside pitch. Rosario instead got a mistake over the middle and deposited it into the crowd.
The 23-year-old leads all MLB rookies with nine round-trippers.
T-20. Andruw Jones, New York Yankees (May 27)
10 of 30Opposing pitcher: Tommy Milone
True distance: 454 feet
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Andruw Jones' performance against left-handed pitching in 2012 has been largely disappointing. Prior to this game, southpaws were striking him out frequently.
Being aggressive early in the count is one way to buck that trend.
Accordingly, Jones jumped on the first pitch of the inning. His home run flew out of play in a hurry, so try not to blink.
T-20. Matt Kemp, Los Angles Dodgers (April 25)
11 of 30Opposing pitcher: Brandon Beachy
True distance: 454 feet
Venue: Dodger Stadium
The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers played through icky conditions on April 25.
Rain was coming down. Lights were flickering. You get the picture.
It's hard to believe that anybody hit a ball solidly on that night, but Matt Kemp made it look effortless.
He thanked his drenched supporters for their commitment with this bomb.
19. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (June 3)
12 of 30Opposing pitcher: Justin Verlander
True distance: 455 feet
Venue: Comerica Park
Power pitchers can turn any opponent into a home-run threat. Their velocity makes the hitter's job much easier...if he connects.
And a strong individual like Alex Rodriguez can clear the fences with room to spare.
In this instance, 96 miles per hour met 637 career jacks. Advantage A-Rod.
Even spacious Comerica Park had zero chance of containing it.
T-17. Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays (May 22)
13 of 30Opposing pitcher: Drew Hutchison
True distance: 456 feet
Venue: Tropicana Field
Drew Hutchison was already trailing by three runs. Two bases were occupied, and a reputable hitter with the platoon advantage was due up.
That hitter was Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena.
Hutchison nibbled with his first two pitches, but to no avail. He then painted the outside corner. Well, he would have if Pena hadn't crush it.
It was his longest tater since 2009.
T-17. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (May 6)
14 of 30Opposing pitcher: Dylan Axelrod
True distance: 456 feet
Venue: Comerica Park
Curious why the Detroit Tigers guaranteed $214 million to Prince Fielder this past winter? It was because they wanted a player with the potential to incite the home crowd and swing a game's momentum with towering shots.
This down-and-in pitch was right in Fielder's wheelhouse.
His 456-footer on May 6 gave the Tigers an edge they wouldn't relinquish.
T-15. Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (June 8)
15 of 30Opposing pitcher: Alex White
True distance: 457 feet
Venue: Coors Field
Surprisingly, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are solely represented by Torii Hunter.
Kendrys Morales, Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo are all accustomed to hitting baseballs into neighboring counties. But none of them got the hanging slider that Hunter did on June 8.
The conditions at Coors Field helped it carry.
T-15. Jason Kubel, Arizona Diamondbacks (June 8)
16 of 30Opposing pitcher: Tommy Milone
True distance: 457 feet
Venue: Chase Field
The Arizona Diamondbacks are rapidly rebounding from early-season underachievement.
Jason Kubel has been instrumental in their resurgence.
His most recent home run fueled a comeback win and raised money to fight prostate cancer. What a guy!
T-12. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (May 24)
17 of 30Opposing pitcher: Ryan Vogelsong
True distance: 458 feet
Venue: Marlins Park
Marlins Park is famous for erecting a vibrant "home run sculpture" in left-center field. Giancarlo Stanton has set it in motion eight times in barely two months.
Seven of those bombs ventured 400-plus feet from home plate. One crashed into the distant Budweiser Bar.
Stanton brought happy hour to Miami fans last month with a booming line drive.
T-12. Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks (June 9)
18 of 30Opposing pitcher: Jarrod Parker
True distance: 458 feet
Venue: Chase Field
It's no coincidence that Miguel Montero is the fifth Arizona Diamondbacks player to appear in this slideshow.
The D-Backs aren't particularly offensive-minded. It's just easy to go yard at Chase Field.
Montero's complex swing depends on numerous moving parts, and he hasn't been able to coordinate them all so far in 2012.
This is what happens when everything goes smoothly.
T-12. Jeff Mathis, Toronto Blue Jays (April 29)
19 of 30Opposing pitcher: Charlie Furbush
True distance: 458 feet
Venue: Rogers Centre
Catcher Jeff Mathis rarely starts for the Toronto Blue Jays. Even though he has clubbed three homers in 42 at-bats, he can't persuade anyone that his power is legitimate.
His batting practice repetitions certainly paid off earlier in the year when he provided the bullpen with some valuable insurance.
11. Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers (April 25)
20 of 30Opposing pitcher: Phil Hughes
True distance: 459 feet
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
New York Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes has an unbelievable streak intact.
In each of his 12 outings of the season, the right-hander has conceded a home run.
Adrian Beltre got to him during a 7-3 Texas Rangers victory. Hughes was missing too much zip on a first-pitch fastball, and Beltre absolutely pulverized it.
10. Bryan Lahair, Chicago Cubs (April 9)
21 of 30Opposing pitcher: Shaun Marcum
True distance: 460 feet
Venue: Wrigley Field
Bryan LaHair took aim at the Wrigley rooftops one afternoon and nearly succeeded.
An errant fastball came across the inner half of the plate. LaHair yanked it out of "The Friendly Confines" and onto Sheffield Avenue.
None of the six NL Central stadiums has yielded a longer blast in 2012.
T-8. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (May 21)
22 of 30Opposing pitcher: Jamie Moyer
True distance: 462 feet
Venue: Marlins Park
Most batters simplify their approach with the based loaded. Why gamble for a home run when a soft single could bring home two?
It's obvious that Giancarlo Stanton got greedy against soft-throwing Jamie Moyer.
He left his mark on the scoreboard. Literally.
T-8. Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics (April 6)
23 of 30Opposing pitcher: Jason Vargas
True distance: 462 feet
Venue: O.co Coliseum
The Oakland Athletics have made a substantial financial commitment to outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
It's easy to understand why. His offensive skills are invaluable to a team with run-scoring deficiencies.
Cespedes flaunted his strength and exceptional bat speed with this bullet to left-center.
7. Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals (May 8)
24 of 30Opposing pitcher: Ian Kennedy
True distance: 464 feet
Venue: Chase Field
Through his illustrious career, Carlos Beltran has been slightly more powerful as a right-handed batter.
But he turned around to face Ian Kennedy and still clobbered one of his grandest homers ever.
The 90-degree Arizona climate and poor quality of Kennedy's curveball—in terms of both location and movement—made it all possible.
T-5. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (June 2)
25 of 30Opposing pitcher: Hiroki Kuroda
True distance: 466 feet
Venue: Comerica Park
I greatly admired Miguel Cabrera's second longball of this game, which bombarded a nearby camera well (true distance of 444 feet).
Alas, this one is featured instead because 1) Miggy struck it with more authority, and 2) FOX analyst Tim McCarver brings cookies into the discussion.
Excellent work from two future Hall of Famers.
T-5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Boston Red Sox (May 20)
26 of 30Opposing pitcher: Cliff Lee
True distance: 466 feet
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Cliff Lee is keeping the struggling Philadelphia Phillies afloat in 2012. He's generating more ground balls than ever and giving the team quality starts.
This outing against the Boston Red Sox was simply an aberration.
The southpaw kept this changeup away from Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but accidentally elevated it.
4. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers (April 17)
27 of 30Opposing pitcher: Mark Melancon
True distance: 469 feet
Venue: Fenway Park
Just like the others, this pitch was annihilated. Tomahawked beyond the reach of all defensive players and most fans.
Josh Hamilton can also take pride in the fact that he stalled a pitcher's career with the swing of a bat.
Immediately following this contest, Boston Red Sox reliever Mark Melancon was demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. He spent almost eight weeks in the minors before being recalled on June 10.
3. Justin Maxwell, Houston Astros (May 28)
28 of 30Opposing pitcher: Alex White
True distance: 471 feet
Venue: Coors Field
Justin Maxwell broke free from a miserable 2-for-31 funk with this "soaring fly ball."
He has since established himself as one of the game's most effective pinch-hitters (3 HR, 7 RBI in 22 AB).
The stats suggest that he didn't carry a hot bat into the game. But judging by his reaction, hitting this one squarely must have set it aflame.
2. Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians (April 15)
29 of 30Opposing pitcher: Luis Mendoza
True distance: 481 feet
Venue: Kauffman Stadium
A pair of Cleveland Indians broadcasters claimed that this Travis Hafner home run landed in a restaurant down the right-field line.
Here's another theory.
I don't think the ball has hit the ground yet. At its peak height, it may have broken through Earth's atmosphere and gone into an eternal orbit.
Regardless, it was a fitting way to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day.
1. Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers (June 3)
30 of 30Opposing pitcher: Bobby Cassevah
True distance: 484 feet
Venue: Angel Stadium
Nelson Cruz caught Bobby Cassevah napping in a hitter's count. This herculean blast served as the ultimate wake-up call.
It was next seen three-quarters of the way up Angel Stadium's steep hill, where it nailed an advertisement for Monster Energy.
Oh, the irony.
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