Pirates' Neil Walker Sets Franchise Record for Home Runs by a Second Baseman

Now with 21 home runs on the season, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker holds the franchise record for most homers in a single season by a second baseman, per MLB Stat of the Day. The previous record of 19 was set by Hall of Fame inductee Bill Mazeroski in 1958. 

Walker's 20th homer this season came last Sunday against the Chicago Cubs, and he then hit his 21st Wednesday night against the Boston Red Sox. His 21 home runs and 70 RBI are both second on the Pirates this season, trailing only reining NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, who has 23 home runs and 75 RBI heading into Sunday's action.

Walker has been a steady hand at the plate and in the field since becoming the Pirates' full-time second baseman in 2010. In each of his five full seasons, he's posted an OPS of .735 or better and a fielding percentage of .985 or better. According to FanGraphs.com, he's recorded at least 1.8 WAR in each of the five seasons, including a personal-best 3.5 this year.

Mazeroski spent his entire 17-year career with the Pirates, playing from 1956 to 1972. A seven-time All-Star, he hit double-digit home runs in six seasons but never hit more than 16 in a year after 1958. Mazeroski stands in ninth place on the franchise home runs list with 138 and is sixth in RBI with 853. Above all, the former second baseman is known for hitting a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

All stats courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.