The Yankees Should’ve Hit Even More Home Runs
On Saturday afternoon, the 161st day of the season, New York Yankees second basemen Gleyber Torres launched a baseball over the right-center field fence in Boston. This was the 265th home run of the year for the Yankees, breaking the 1997 Seattle Mariners single season record. Going back to 1871, baseball teams have played 2,895 seasons, and these Yankees are the most powerful. Yet in many ways, they could’ve- and should’ve- hit even more.
The Big Three
The 2017 Yankees smashed 241 homers, which topped MLB. They were led by youngsters Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, who hit 52 and 33. Following the season, they traded for NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton, who blasted 59 homers for the Miami Marlins. Even the most demanding of Yankees fans couldn’t expect them to replicate their combined total of 144 home runs, but they didn’t really come close.
Stanton led the way with 38 home runs. This is an admirable total, and represents the second most he ever hit in a season. Nevertheless, it’s a drop-off of 21 from the previous year. The strange part is he actually hit the ball harder in 2018! His average exit velocity was 91.9 MPH last year and 93.6 MPH this season. He also improved his hard hit percentage from 45.5 percent to 50.4 percent. He did hit fewer barrels (61 in 2018, down from 76), but his barrels:home runs ratio was a lot better in 2017.* This suggests he either deserved more home runs this year or fewer last year.
Judge dropped off to just 27 home runs, tied with Miguel Andújar, Didi Gregorius, and Aaron Hicks for second on the team. His decline is much easier to pinpoint. On July 26, his wrist fractured when he was hit by a pitch, landing him on the disabled list for about seven weeks. Since returning, he has only one homer. Considering that he had 25 at the All-Star Break, another season of 50+ was within reach and at least 40 seemed probable.
However, the most drastic decline belongs to Sanchez. After leading all MLB catchers in homers a year ago, he tied for sixth with only 18. His overall offensive production cratered from .278/.345/.531 to .186/.288/.407. Injuries are partially responsible, as he played only three games in July and August. However you look at it, 2018 has been forgettable for the Yankee backstop.
The Rest of the Yankees
Including Stanton, Judge, and Sanchez, there were nine Yankees who spent the entire season with the team that played most of 2017 in the majors. Collectively, these players drastically underwhelmed in the home run department.
| Player | 2017 HR | 2018 HR |
| Gary Sanchez | 33 | 18 |
| Greg Bird | 9 | 11 |
| Didi Gregorius | 25 | 27 |
| Brett Gardner | 21 | 12 |
| Aaron Hicks | 15 | 27 |
| Aaron Judge | 52 | 27 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | 59 (MIA) | 38 |
| Neil Walker | 14 (NYM/MIL) | 11 |
| Austin Romine | 2 | 10 |
| Total | 230 | 181 |
That’s 49 bombs less than last year from the nine guys who should’ve been the most reliable. Two players (Hicks and Romine) significantly increased their power output, and three of them stayed relatively the same (Bird, Gregorius, and Walker). In addition to the big three sluggers, Gardner’s power dropped of the table as well.
At this point, it’s fair to wonder where all these home runs actually came from. Rookies Andújar and Torres made up much of the difference, hitting 27 and 24 respectively. Mid-season additions Luke Voit, Andrew McCutchen, and Adeiny Hechavarria combined for 21 more. Tyler Austin smacked eight dingers before departing at the trade deadline, and a collection of up-and-down minor leaguers hit six. That all adds up to 267.
In short, the Yankee batters spread the wealth. Torres’ record-breaker was the 20th home run hit by Yankee #9 hitters this season, giving them at least that many from every spot in the lineup. Lots of people predicted them to threaten the single season home run record, but they did so in an unexpected way. Instead of concentrating power among three of baseball’s premier sluggers, this record was truly a team effort.
*Not all barrels are home runs, and not all home runs are barrels. However, there should be a pretty strong correlation.
