Every MLB Team's Most Random 30 Home Run Slugger Since 2000
For every Barry Bonds, there is a Rich Aurilia.
Not every MLB player finds sustained success at an elite level for a decade-plus in the big leagues, but that doesn't mean things can't click for one magical peak season where they are one of baseball's most productive offensive players.
Ahead we've highlighted each team's most random 30-homer slugger of the past 25 years, focusing on players who fit into one of two categories.
The first is players who had one huge career year and never came close to replicating that level of production, specifically from a power standpoint. These can be one-year wonders or solid players who simply never came close to duplicating their peak home run output.
The other is players the average MLB fan might not remember suiting up for a specific team. Think Fred McGriff with the Cubs, Frank Thomas with the Athletics and Lance Berkman with the Cardinals.
Let's take a stroll down memory lane and remember some forgotten sluggers.
AL East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: DH Renato Núñez (31 HR, 2019)
Núñez hit 31 of his 56 career home runs for a 108-loss Orioles team in 2019, but his lack of defensive value and on-base ability made him just a 0.4-WAR player over 151 games. He hit 12 more home runs in 52 games during the shortened 2020 season but was non-tendered that winter, and he played just 14 more games in the big leagues with his final game coming at the age of 27.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: JJ Hardy (30, 2011), Jonathan Schoop (32, 2017)
Boston Red Sox: OF Jacoby Ellsbury (32 HR, 2011)
Ellsbury put together a huge offensive campaign in 2011, hitting .321/.376/.552 for a 146 OPS+ with 46 doubles, 32 home runs, 105 RBI, 119 runs scored, 39 steals and 8.3 WAR to finish runner-up in AL MVP voting. He reached double-digit home runs just one other time in his 11-year career, tallying 16 homers in his first season with the Yankees in 2014.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Carl Everett (34, 2000), Jason Bay (36, 2009)
New York Yankees: SS Gleyber Torres (38 HR, 2019)
When Torres launched 38 home runs during his age-22 season, it looked like he was headed for superstardom in the Bronx. Five years later, he has settled in as a productive second baseman with two more 20-homer seasons on his resume, but that 2019 offensive explosion now stands as a clear outlier relative to the rest of his career.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: None
Tampa Bay Rays: SS Brad Miller (30 HR, 2016)
It looked like the Rays pulled off another trade market heist when Miller posted a 113 OPS+ with 30 home runs in his first season with the team after he was acquired in a six-player deal with the Mariners. However, poor defense at shortstop made him just a 0.9-WAR player, and he hit just 64 more long balls over the final seven years of his career while serving primarily as a utility player.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Logan Morrison (38, 2017), Steven Souza Jr. (30, 2017), C.J. Cron (2018), Austin Meadows (33, 2019), Mike Zunino (33, 2021)
Toronto Blue Jays: DH Brad Fullmer (32 HR, 2000)
A hyped prospect in the Expos organization who peaked at No. 14 on the Baseball America Top 100 list prior to the 1998 season, Fullmer hit 114 home runs over eight seasons in the majors, but 2000 was the only year he even eclipsed 20 long balls. Carlos Delgado (41 HR), Tony Batista (41 HR) and José Cruz Jr. (31 HR) also reached 30 homers for the 2000 Blue Jays.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Aaron Hill (36, 2009), Adam Lind (35, 2009), Justin Smoak (38, 2017), Randal Grichuk (31, 2019)
AL Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: OF Carlos Quentin (36 HR, 2008)
A first-round pick and top prospect in the D-backs system, Quentin was acquired by the White Sox prior to the 2008 season. He posted a 149 OPS with 36 home runs and 100 RBI in his first year on the South Side to finish fifth in AL MVP balloting, and while he followed that up with three straight 20-homer seasons, he never again reached elite levels of offensive production.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: José Valentín (30, 2004), Joe Crede (30, 2006), Todd Frazier (40, 2016)
Cleveland Guardians: DH Ellis Burks (32 HR, 2002)
Burks peaked with a 40-homer, 32-steal, 7.9-WAR season for the Rockies in 1996, and with 352 career home runs over 18 seasons, his 2002 performance was by no means an outlier. However, it came in his age-37 season, and who outside of the Cleveland market even remembers his brief stint with the team?
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Juan González (35, 2001), Franmil Reyes (30, 2021)
Detroit Tigers: 1B Spencer Torkelson (31 HR, 2023)
How often does a top prospect go from slugging 31 home runs in his age-23 season to fighting for a spot on the roster two years later? Following a disappointing 2024 where he was demoted to Triple-A for a sizable chunk of the year, Torkelson now finds himself behind Colt Keith on the depth chart and battling to simply make the Opening Day roster.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Bobby Higginson (30, 2000)
Kansas City Royals: DH Jorge Soler (48 HR, 2019)
Soler always had 40-homer potential going back to his time in the Cubs farm system, and everything clicked in 2019 when he set the Royals single-season record with an AL-leading 48 home runs. He also has a 36-homer season on his resume as a member of the Marlins in 2023, so it's not necessarily a major outlier, but he is one of the more unlikely franchise single-season home run leaders.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Jermaine Dye (2000), Kendrys Morales (30, 2016)
Minnesota Twins: 2B Jorge Polanco (33 HR, 2021)
Prior to 2021, Polanco had averaged 16 home runs and 80 RBI per 162 games over his first seven years in the big leagues, peaking with 22 home runs during the 2019 season. He has not even reached 20 homers in the three years since his career-high performance, making 2021 a clear outlier.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Michael Cuddyer (32, 2009), Josh Willingham (35, 2012), Eddie Rosario (32, 2019)
AL West
3 of 6
Athletics: OF Jack Cust (33 HR, 2008)
Cust led the AL in strikeouts three years in a row from 2007-09, but he also posted a .378 on-base percentage and 125 OPS+ during that span while slugging 84 home runs. He led the AL in walks (111) and strikeouts (197) during the 2008 season, which was the only time he reached 30 home runs during his 10 years in the big leagues.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Frank Thomas (39, 2006), Brandon Moss (30, 2013)
Houston Astros: 3B Morgan Ensberg (36 HR, 2005)
At 29 years old and in his third season as Houston's primary third baseman, Ensberg hit .283/.388/.557 for a 144 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 36 home runs, 101 RBI and 6.3 WAR to finish fourth in NL MVP voting. He played just 270 more games and hit just six home runs on the other end of his career year.
Other Random-30 HR Seasons: Richard Hidalgo (44, 2000), Chris Carter (37, 2014), Evan Gattis (32, 2016)
Los Angeles Angels: OF Kole Calhoun (33 HR, 2019)
In six seasons as the Angels' starting right fielder, Calhoun posted a 104 OPS+ while averaging 27 doubles, 22 home runs, 70 RBI and 2.3 WAR as a solidly above-average everyday player. However, those numbers are skewed by his 2019 season, as he reached 20 home runs just one other time during that span. He hit a total of 39 home runs over the next four seasons before retiring last March.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Mo Vaughn (36, 2000)
Seattle Mariners: 1B Russell Branyan (31 HR, 2009)
Branyan did one thing extremely well and that was hitting home runs, with 447 career long balls over 21 seasons in the majors, minors and Mexican League. His lack of a clear defensive home and big strikeout totals limited him to a part-time role for much of his career, but the Mariners gave him a career-high 505 plate appearances in 2009 and he responded with a 130 OPS+ and 31 home runs.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Daniel Vogelbach (30, 2019), Mitch Haniger (39, 2021)
Texas Rangers: 3B Hank Blalock (32 HR, 2004)
Blalock was the No. 3 prospect in baseball entering 2002, and he piled up 11.0 WAR during his first two full seasons in the majors. That included a 2004 campaign where he posted a 113 OPS+ with 38 doubles, 32 home runs and 110 RBI and made his second straight All-Star team. That proved to be the peak of his nine-year career and the only time he reached 30 home runs.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: None
NL East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: OF J.D. Drew (31 HR, 2004)
The Braves paid a steep price to acquire Drew, sending a young Adam Wainwright to the Cardinals in the deal. To his credit, he had the best season of his career in Atlanta, hitting .305/.436/.569 for a 157 OPS+ with 31 home runs, 93 RBI and 8.3 WAR in 145 games. His tenure with the Braves was short, as he departed in free agency that winter, but it had a profound impact on the organization.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Josh Donaldson (37, 2019)
Miami Marlins: 1B Mike Jacobs (32 HR, 2008)
The Marlins signed Carlos Delgado to a four-year, $52 million deal prior to the 2005 season, and in typical Marlins fashion flipped him after just one season with the team. Jacobs was part of the return package they received from the Mets, and he slugged 32 of his 100 career home runs during the 2008 season. Despite his gaudy power numbers, terrible defense and a .299 on-base percentage made him a minus-2.0 WAR player.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Preston Wilson (31, 2000), Carlos Delgado (33, 2005)
New York Mets: 1B Ike Davis (32 HR, 2012)
Davis looked like a star on the rise when he debuted with a 115 OPS+ and 3.3 WAR in 147 games during the 2010 season, and two years later he led the Mets with 32 home runs in his age-25 campaign. However, the following season he struggled to the point that he was demoted back to Triple-A, and he hit just 23 more home runs in 326 games the rest of his career.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Mike Cameron (30, 2004)
Philadelphia Phillies: OF Raúl Ibañez (34 HR, 2009)
Ibañez had a quietly excellent 19-year career in the majors, posting a 111 OPS+ with 2,034 hits, 305 home runs, 1,207 RBI and 20.9 WAR in 2,161 games. Despite those impressive counting numbers, he only reached 30 home runs in a season twice, and one came when he was 37 years old in the first season of a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Phillies. He also earned the only All-Star selection of his career that year.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Jayson Werth (36, 2009)
Washington Nationals: 1B Mike Morse (31 HR, 2011)
An imposing 6'5", 245-pound slugger, Morse only topped 500 plate appearances once in his career, and the result was a 147 OPS+ with 36 doubles, 31 home runs, 95 RBI and 3.4 WAR during the 2011 season. He might be best remembered for his contributions to the Giants team that won the 2014 World Series.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Brad Wilkerson (32, 2004), Alfonso Soriano (46, 2006)
NL Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: 1B Fred McGriff (30 HR, 2002)
No one should be surprised by a 30-homer season from McGriff, who had 10 of them during his Hall of Fame career. However, how many people remember that his final 30-homer campaign came in a Cubs uniform? A 38-year-old McGriff hit .273/.353/.505 with 27 doubles, 30 home runs and 103 RBI in 146 games in his final season as an everyday player.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: None
Cincinnati Reds: OF Scott Schebler (30 HR, 2017)
The Reds acquired Schebler from the Dodgers in the three-team deal that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox. He slugged 30 home runs in his first season as an everyday player in 2017, but never again approached that level of production, playing just 152 more games in the majors over the next four years.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: None
Milwaukee Brewers: 1B Chris Carter (41 HR, 2016)
Carter already had a 37-homer season on his resume when he joined the Brewers for the 2016 season, but he still stands as the most unlikely league leader in home runs of the past 25 years. He launched 41 homers and struck out 206 times in what would be his only season in Milwaukee, and the following year he played his final MLB game as a member of the Yankees.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Bill Hall (35, 2006), Eric Thames (31, 2017), Domingo Santana (30, 2017), Jesús Aguilar (35, 2018)
Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Reggie Sanders (31 HR, 2003)
The Pirates signed Sanders to a one-year, $1 million deal prior to his age-35 season, and he went on to slug a career-high 31 home runs in a 3.1-WAR season. A member of the exclusive 300/300 club, he was well-traveled late in his career, playing for seven different teams over his final nine years in the majors after leaving the Reds.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: None
St. Louis Cardinals: IF Jedd Gyorko (30 HR, 2016)
Gyorko debuted with a 113 OPS+ and 23 home runs for the Padres in 2013, and after three seasons in San Diego he was traded to the Cardinals in a one-for-one swap that sent Jon Jay the other way. He slugged a team-high 30 home runs while starting at least 20 games at second base, third base and shortstop in 2016 to kick off a solid three-year run in St. Louis.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Ryan Ludwick (37, 2008), Lance Berkman (31, 2011), Paul DeJong (30, 2019)
NL West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Yasmany Tomás (31 HR, 2016)
A year after José Abreu debuted with a bang for the White Sox, the D-backs rolled the dice on the market's next high-profile Cuban defector, inking Tomás to a six-year, $68.5 million deal. He struck out a bunch, had limited on-base skills and was one of the worst defenders in baseball, but he did smack 31 home runs in 2016 as the team's starting right fielder. He finished his MLB run with minus-2.5 WAR in 309 career games.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Troy Glaus (37, 2005), Tony Clark (30, 2005), Jason Kubel (30, 2012), David Peralta (30, 2018)
Colorado Rockies: OF Jeromy Burnitz (37 HR, 2004)
Burnitz had four straight 30-homer seasons and slugged 165 total homers in six seasons with the Brewers, but he also spent one year taking aim at Coors Field near the end of his career. In his age-35 campaign, he posted a 121 OPS+ with 37 home runs and 110 RBI, and his home (1.057 OPS, 24 HR, 68 RBI) vs. road (.775 OPS, 13 HR, 42 RBI) splits tell the story of that season.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Mark Reynolds (30, 2017)
Los Angeles Dodgers: DH J.D. Martinez (33 HR, 2023)
A perennial 40-homer threat at the peak of his career, Martinez seemed to be in decline when he hit just 16 home runs and posted a .448 slugging percentage in 139 games during his final season with the Red Sox. The Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $10 million deal in hopes he still had something left in the tank, and he rewarded them with an unexpected 33-homer, 103-RBI outburst.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: None
San Diego Padres: 3B Chase Headley (31 HR, 2012)
A solid defensive third baseman with gap power who logged 18.2 WAR over nine seasons with the Padres, Headley had a second half to remember during the 2012 season. He hit .308/.386/.592 with 23 home runs and 73 RBI in 75 games after the break on his way to a NL-leading 115 RBI and a Silver Slugger. He did not top 14 home runs in any other season during his 12-year career.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: Wil Myers (30, 2017)
San Francisco Giants: SS Rich Aurilia (37 HR, 2001)
Aurilia enjoyed a banner year in 2001, racking up a NL-leading 206 hits while setting career highs in doubles (37), home runs (37), RBI (97), total bases (364) and WAR (6.7) and earning a starting nod in the All-Star Game. He reached 20 home runs three other times during his 15-year career but never again came close to his 2001 output.
Other Random 30-HR Seasons: None
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