Seton Hall
The impact of the home run
Date: August 23, 2019By: Ben Harris
Everyone loves the long-ball. So, as we watch the regular season wind down, an incredibly exciting home run race is beginning to take shape. With players from both the American and National leagues, placed in baseball cities all over the United States, fans everywhere are getting a taste of exciting September baseball.
This homer-based brand of competitive late-season baseball is exactly what the MLB needs to attract casual fans and keep them around for the playoffs.
Realistically, there are five ballplayers who have the numbers, consistency, and potential to end the season as the league leader in home runs. Currently tied for first-place at 42 home runs apiece, Mike Trout of the Los Angles Angels and Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers are bashing balls left and right out on the west coast.
In the technical third-place position, reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers has 41 home runs. Then in fourth-place, with one of the most exciting storylines of the season, sits New York Mets rookie first baseman Pete Alonso with 40 homers.
Lastly, though many would not consider him to be a part of the race, due to his recent hot streak, I think he has a shot. The player in debate is Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Even though Acuña is a slightly intimidating four homers behind Alonso, he has hit 11 home runs in his last 18 games alone, so if he stays hot, I can easily see the young star launching into the top spot by game 162.
Trout and Bellinger are not only leading the MLB in home runs, but each of them are leading in the MVP races for their respective leagues. If either ends as the home run leader, the title will only support their MVP chances.
As for Yelich, he is currently sitting in the consensus second place behind Bellinger in terms of the NL MVP race. A home run title could mean a lot to Yelich's chances of his second consecutive MVP award. But, that probably relies more on whether or not he is able to drag his shaky Brewers squad into the postseason.
Alonso is an anomaly. With his 40th homer, he broke the NL rookie record previously set by Bellinger's 39 in 2017. The league-wide rookie record was set by Aaron Judge in 2017 when he slammed 52 over the wall. If Alonso can continue his incredible inaugural season and cap it off with a home run title, Mets fans will lose their minds.
Lastly, Acuńa is just on such a hot streak, it would be disrespectful to not include him in these talks. His previously mentioned 11-in-18 stretch is almost unprecedented. Simply, if he somehow keeps this level of play going, he will skyrocket to the top of the leaders list.
This race is not only competitive, and involves an abnormally long list of players, but the numbers are high and only climbing. To the dismay of many pitchers, the new baseballs have led to an increase in long balls all year long, and they are here to stay.
The five hitters above are all thriving, and very young. I guarantee this will not be the last season these five players are atop the league leaders in homers. This season, personally, I think Trout will continue his all-around dominance and end as the home run leader. But, among other players, these stars will be some of baseball’s biggest stars for years to come.
Ben Harris can be reached at benjamin.harris@student.shu.edu.
