Long Home Run of the Month: Nolan Arenado
Nolan Arenado’s 471-foot home run off James Shields on April 10 was the longest home run hit this month. This was the longest home run of Arenado’s career by 24 feet (447 feet, 2015).
Arenado has hit 10 home runs this season, tied with teammate Trevor Story for most in MLB. All but one of the home runs was pulled to left field. Arenado, who made his major league debut in 2013, has pulled 66 of his 80 home runs, not hitting even one homer to right field (14 to center). Since the start of 2013, Arenado is the only player to hit more than 45 home runs without at least one of those homers hit to the opposite field.
Hitter of the Month: Trevor Story
Trevor Story has hit 10 home runs this season, tied for most April home runs by a rookie in MLB history. Story started out fast, hitting seven home runs in his first six games, the fastest player in MLB history to reach seven career home runs. His average home run distance is 421 feet, third-longest among MLB players with at least five home runs. Six of Story’s 10 home runs have been 425 feet or longer, most in MLB.
Pirates Going Deep
On April 22, Pirates teammates Sean Rodriguez (468 feet) and Gregory Polanco (457 feet) hit back-to-back career-long home runs. The 925 feet is the longest combined distance for back-to-back home runs since 2009.
Joining teammates Polanco and Rodriguez in the home run festivities on April 22 was Jordy Mercer, hitting a 461-foot home run, making the Pirates the first team since 2009 to hit at least three home runs 450-foot in a game.
Shortest Home Run of the Month: J.J. Hardy
J.J. Hardy’s 327-foot home run on April 12 right around the Pesky Pole in Fenway Park was the shortest home run of the month. In fact, Hardy hit two of the seven shortest home runs of April in that game.
Notes To Know:
• The Atlanta Braves have hit five home runs this season. Every other team has at least 17 home runs this season. The Braves went 15 straight games without a home run for the first time since 1946. There are 41 players who have more than five home runs this season.
• On April 10, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta hit a 442-foot home run, the longest home run by a pitcher since ESPN began tracking home runs (2009). The 442-foot home run was longer than any home run he has allowed in the past 5 seasons. Arrieta has allowed only one longer home run in his career, June 15, 2011, against Yunel Escobar (447 feet).
• FASTEST SPEED OFF BAT: Mike Trout’s 425-foot home run off Joakim Soria on April 25 had a speed off the bat of 120.5 mph. It was the fastest such speed on a home run in Trout’s career.
• HIGHEST APEX: Sean Rodriguez’s 468-foot home run on April 22 off Patrick Corbin had an apex of 147 feet, fourth highest apex for a Pirates hitter since 2009.
• MOST IMPACT FROM WIND: With help from a 26 mph wind, Carlos Santana hit a career-longest 449-foot home run on April 6 off Clay Buchholz. The home run was aided 62 feet by the wind.
• BEST AVERAGE DISTANCE: Mike Trout leads the major leagues this season with an average home run distance of 432 feet (min. 5 HR). Trout, who made his MLB debut in 2011, has hit 52 home runs 425 feet or longer, only Giancarlo Stanton has more such home runs (65) in that span.