If you’ve watched any Major League Baseball this year (or last year, really), you’ve noticed that fly balls have been leaving the yard at a crazy rate. Turns out MLB experienced a record number of homers in May — 1,135 is 16 more than any other month in the sport’s long history. Jay Bruce hit one of those for the Mariners, his 300th career homer. Twelve more belonged to the Pirates’ Josh Bell, who finished a historic month of his own. Elsewhere, the Cubs are no fans of umpire Laz Diaz, and the Rockies are trying to fix a pitcher who was a Cy Young candidate last year.
The 1,135 homers in May breaks the record of 1,119 set in August 2017.
And the record…
Vlad Jr’s HR is the 1,120th this month.
That’s the most HR in a single month in MLB history, breaking the record previously held by August 2017 (1,119).
Most HR in calendar month, MLB history:
May 2019: 1,120 & counting
Aug 2017: 1,119
June 2017: 1,101— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 1, 2019
Jay Bruce is only hitting .212, but he has 14 homers, giving him 300 for his career. Congrats to a guy known as one of baseball’s good guys.
Jay Bruce with his 14th homer of the season, a solo smash to center, as Mariners take 4-2 lead on Angels in seventh. A 417-foot blast by Bruce, who becomes eighth active player in MLB with 300 HRs and 300 doubles.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) June 1, 2019
Josh Bell collected 92 total bases in May, the most in that month since Willie Mays. That’s some pretty good company.
Josh Bell hitting .345, 18 HR, 51 RBI at the season one-third point
— Joe Block (@joe_block) May 29, 2019
Laz Diaz missed a crucial strike three call in the bottom of the 10th inning Friday night. And Joe Maddon had some choice words afterward.
Laz Diaz is cancelled. pic.twitter.com/f9JImKrhzN
— Sara Sanchez ⚾ (@BCB_Sara) June 1, 2019
The Rockies’ Kyle Freeland has suffered a swift fall from grace. He will try to work out his issues at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Kyle Freeland just got sent to Triple-A and with a 7.13 ERA it’s not hard to see why, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a guy go from “4th in Cy Young” to “minor leagues” in such record time. Imagine thinking he’d be in the minors in May 2019, if you were told that in Sept 2018?
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) May 31, 2019
TOP STORIES
• Homer-happy: MLB-record 1,135 HRs hit in May | ESPN.com
• Bruce hits 300th HR to help Mariners beat Angels 4-3 | Associated Press
• Bell’s 94 TB most in May since Willie Mays in ’58 | ESPN.com
• Maddon critical of plate umpire Laz Diaz after loss | ESPN.com
• Rockies demote Kyle Freeland season after he finished fourth in Cy Young voting | CBS Sports
