MLB's 10 Most Likely Candidates to Slug a 4-Home Run Game in 2013

It was only yesterday that we witnessed Dioner Navarro hit three home runs in a game for the Chicago Cubs, only to have the feat equaled later in the day by Washington's Ryan Zimmerman.

While going deep not once, not twice, but thrice in a single game is an impressive feat to be sure—especially when it happens on the same day—it demands that we ask the obvious question:

Can anyone top it and go deep four times in the same game this season?

It's a feat that has only been accomplished by 16 other players in MLB history, most recently by Josh Hamilton while with the Texas Rangers in a game against Baltimore last May.

Is it likely that someone will hit four home runs in a game this season? No.

But it wasn't likely that Navarro, who has never hit more than nine home runs in a season, would hit three in one game, either.

With that in mind, let's take a look at which players have the best chance at becoming the 17th player in baseball history to unleash a vulgar display of power on the unwitting masses.

*Players currently on the disabled list, like Miami's Giancarlo Stanton and New York's Curtis Granderson, were not eligible for consideration.

Jose Bautista, RF, Toronto Blue Jays

Career Two-Home Run Games: 18

Career Three-Home Run Games: One

It's easy to forget since he missed much of the 2012 season with injury, but it wasn't so long ago that Jose Bautista was the premier slugger in baseball.

From the beginning of the 2010 season through his last game of 2012—402 games in total—Bautista delivered a ball to a lucky fan via airmail 124 times.

It was only two years ago that Bautista decided to put on a batting practice display against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, hitting five home runs in the three-game series, including the first and only three-home run game of his career:

"

In case you missed it, Jose Bautista (@joeybats19) crushed three homers Sunday and they looked exactly like this ... http://atmlb.com/mU6cfI

— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2011"

With a dozen blasts in 2013 already, Bautista has proven that he's back to his old self and that player is capable of going deep every time he steps to the plate.

Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers

Career Two-Home Run Games: 17

Career Three-Home Run Games: One

Whether you believe Ryan Braun is a PED user, it doesn't change the fact remains one of the best players in baseball and a perennial MVP candidate.

It was April 30 of last year when Braun unleashed the first three-home run game of his career, battering San Diego pitching in what was a historic performance:

"

Ryan Braun set Petco Park single-game records for home runs (3) and total bases (15).

"

"— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) May 1, 2012"

It's not as if Braun's home runs struggled to get over the fence in what has traditionally been one of the most pitching-friendly ballparks in the game, either:

"

Ryan Braun's 2nd homer of the night hit a warehouse. Seriously, it hit the TOP FLOOR of a warehouse: atmlb.com/IiaWxv

— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2012"

Still in the prime of his career, Braun is as capable as any player in baseball of hitting four home runs in a single game.

Jay Bruce, RF, Cincinnati Reds

Career Two-Home Run Games: 11

Career Three-Home Run Games: One

Often overlooked by his more high-profile teammates like Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto, Jay Bruce has quietly become one of the more consistent sluggers in the game.

The 26-year-old has never hit fewer than 21 home runs in a season, has two consecutive 30-home run seasons on his resume and is just beginning to enter the prime of his career.

When Bruce took Chicago Cubs pitching deep three times in a game back in 2010, he did it from an unlikely spot in the lineup, as Grantland's Jonah Keri noted:

"

Jay Bruce has 3 home runs tonight, for those not watching Reds-Cubs. From the leadoff spot.

"

"— Jonah Keri (@jonahkeri) August 28, 2010"

Even more impressive is that Bruce accomplished the feat in consecutive at-bats.

Playing half of his games in the cozy confines of Great American Ballpark, Bruce has home-field advantage on his side in the chase for that elusive four-home run game.

Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Career Two-Home Run Games: 26

Career Three-Home Run Games: Two

It was only a few weeks ago that Miguel Cabrera put on a clinic against the Texas Rangers, setting a bit of history in the process:

"

Miguel Cabrera is 23rd player in history to go 4-for-4 with 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 4 runs scored. But he’s first player to do it in a losing cause.

"

"— MLB (@MLB) May 20, 2013"

If you'd like to make a case as to why Cabrera won't hit four home runs in a game, be my guest.

I'm not about to doubt Miggy's ability to do anything when he has a bat in his hand, especially when it comes to going deep.

Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

Career Two-Home Run Games: Four

Career Three-Home Run Games: One

In case you missed it, Baltimore is once again home to the American League's premier slugger at first base.

No, we haven't stepped into a time machine back to the 1980s when Eddie Murray manned the position.

Chris Davis continues to silence the doubters and detractors by building on his breakout 2012 campaign, keeping pace with Miguel Cabrera in each of the three Triple Crown categories: batting average, RBI and home runs.

Nobody's ever doubted Davis' ability to drive the ball deep into the bleachers, something he did three times against the Toronto Blue Jays last season—a performance that placed him in some rarefied air:

"

From Elias: Chris Davis is 3rd player w/ 3-HR game & a win as pitcher in a season since 1900. Other 2? Babe Ruth (1930) & Jim Tobin (1942).

"

"— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 25, 2012"

With a new approach at the plate that impressed even ESPN's Jim Bowden, who named him one of the five most improved players in baseball* this season, the sky is the limit for the 27-year-old as he enters the prime years of his career.

*Insider subscription required to access full article.

Adam Dunn, DH, Chicago White Sox

Career Two-Home Run Games: 34

Career Three-Home Run Games: One

An all-or-nothing kind of player—either he goes deep, walks or strikes out—Adam Dunn has used 35 multi-home run games and six seasons with 40 or more dingers to get to 418 home runs over his career, 82 away from the magical milestone of 500.

While with the Washington Nationals in 2010, Dunn went yard three times against the San Diego Padres:

"

Here's video of Adam Dunn's first of 3 home runs tonight http://is.gd/djp9D #nats

— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2010"

Things may not be going well for the White Sox in 2013, but Dunn remains one of the game's most formidable sluggers, with 12 home runs on the season, among the league leaders. Doubting his ability to go deep four times in the same game would be foolish.

Prince Fielder, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Career Two-Home Run Games: 24

Career Three-Home Run Games: One

It takes a big-time talent to overshadow Prince Fielder, but that's exactly what has happened since Fielder joined forces with Miguel Cabrera on the Detroit Tigers.

It wasn't so long ago that Fielder put on a show against Pittsburgh, hitting three home runs in a game between the division rivals in September of 2011 that had fans of the black and gold demanding that Fielder leave Milwaukee immediately:

"

GET OUT OF THE NL CENTRAL, PRINCE FIELDER. GO. NOW.

— Pat Lackey (@whygavs) September 28, 2011"

Amazingly enough, Fielder's performance wasn't a rare occurrence for the Brewers that season, noted by the Journal-Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt:

"

#Brewers have had three three-homer games this year -- Corey Hart, Casey McGehee and Prince Fielder.

— Tom (@Haudricourt) September 28, 2011"

While Hart remains sidelined with a knee injury and McGehee is a free agent, Fielder remains one of the most powerful hitters in the game and a legitimate threat to go deep four times in the same game.

Josh Hamilton, RF, Los Angeles Angels

Career Two-Home Run Games: Six

Career Three-Home Run Games: None

Career Four-Home Run Games: One

Sure, Josh Hamilton has not been the offensive force that Los Angeles thought it was getting when it signed the talented slugger to a five-year, $125-million deal this past winter.

But anyone who has followed baseball over the past few years knows that Hamilton is capable of heating up in a hurry—and that when he does, it typically involves baseballs flying recklessly through the air and over the outfield fences.

Hamilton, the last player in baseball to hit four home runs in a single game, accomplished the feat in impressive fashion:

"

Josh Hamilton is 16th player in MLB history with 4-HR game; all 4 were 2-run shots with Elvis Andrus on base.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 9, 2012"

No paltry solo shots here. Not only were all of Hamilton's bombs of the two-run variety, but he set a new American League record in the process:

"

FACT: Josh Hamilton's 18 total bases tonight are an AL record.

— MLB (@MLB) May 9, 2012"

Despite his current struggles at the plate, you can't count Hamilton out when you're talking about going yard.

Matt Kemp, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Career Two-Home Run Games: Five

Career Three-Home Run Games: None

Yes, I know that Matt Kemp has a meager two home runs on the season and that he's mired in an awful season-long slump that has him posting the worst numbers of his career: a .251/.305/.335 slash line with 60 strikeouts in his first 51 games of the season.

But nobody will argue that Kemp isn't as talented as any player in baseball, and how fitting would it be for the man who once predicted he'd be the first member of the 50-50 club (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season) to break out of his slump in historic fashion?

Justin Upton, RF, Atlanta Braves

Career Two-Home Run Games: Five

Career Three-Home Run Games: None

 

After starting the season on fire, smashing 12 home runs in April and looking very much like the player people have long-believed he was capable of becoming, Justin Upton has slumped badly in May, hitting .221 with only a pair of home runs.

Or, as one astute Atlanta fan noted on Twitter:

"

Justin Upton is starting to look a lot like . . . BJ Upton

— Sam Blount (@LeJunebugSmiff) May 30, 2013"

That said, when Upton is in a groove, we've seen what he's capable of doing.

Sooner or later, he's going to heat up again, and when he does, fans sitting in the outfield stands should be on their guard. Balls are likely to be landing in their vicinity.