Reviewing the Twins’ First Four Home Runs

The Twins have shown good power so far in their first two games of the season in Anaheim with four home runs by four different players. Last night was an especially good night, with the Twins supporting Nick Blackburn with three home runs in the first four innings, leading to the Twins 5-3 victory. So far, six of the Twins 8 runs this season have come off a home run. Below is an in-depth look at each of the home runs the Twins have hit so far, in order of when they were hit. Note: The home run graphs are provided by HitTracker; the red dots on the graphs show the trajectory of the ball.

Home Run #1: Delmon Young

Game: 1

Inning: 2

Pitcher: Jered Weaver

Pitch: Two-seam fastball @ 90 mph

Runners: Morneau on first

Details: Delmon hit a middle-in fastball hard into the left-field bleachers. The ball came off of his bat at an estimated 110.8 mph, which gave him the 5^th hardest hit home run of the season so far. As expected when hitting a ball that hard, Young didn’t get a lot of loft on the ball, with its apex point at only 66 feet. In comparison, Morneau’s home run on the following day had an apex of 135 feet, but only came off the bat at 102 mph. Out of the four home runs the Twins have hit thus far, only Delmon’s home run would have travelled out of every major league ballpark (as estimated by HitTracker).

Home Run #2: Joe Mauer

Game: 2

Inning: 1

Pitcher: Joe Saunders

Pitch: Fastball @ 90 mph

Runners: Hudson on first

Details: This pitch must have been a mistake by Saunders as he left a fastball over the middle of the plate and Joe knocked it out to center. By HitTracker estimations, this was a lucky home run that Joe got just enough of to drive out. He did hit it 409 feet, but it was estimated that the wind helped push the ball out an extra 11 feet (giving it enough distance to clear the wall). Additionally, it’s estimated that this ball would have only travelled out of four other major league parks. The home run may be classified as “just enough,” but many of Mauer’s home runs last year were classified as “Just Enough” as well, as he doesn’t hit many long home runs. This was a typical Joe Mauer dinger.

Home Run #3: Justin Morneau

Game: 2

Inning: 3

Pitcher: Joe Saunders

Pitch: Fastball @ 90 mph

Runners: None

Details: Morneau got a middle-in fastball that he got way under and pulled 379 feet out to right. As mentioned in the profile of Delmon’s home run, the apex of Morneau’s home run was 135 feet, making it the home run with the highest apex so far this season. Last year, the highest apex ball Morneau hit was 128 feet, so I wouldn’t expect to see him duplicate the 135 foot mark again this season. Like Mauer’s home run, this HR was also classified as “lucky” because the wind is estimated to have pushed it an extra 13 feet.

Home Run #4: J.J. Hardy

Game: 2

Inning: 4

Pitcher: Joe Saunders

Pitch: Fastball @ 90 mph

Runners: None

Details: Saunders left a pitch up and over the middle of the plate that Hardy hit an estimated 408 feet out to center. Like Mauer’s home run, this was classified as “just enough” because it barely had enough height and distance to clear the wall. Unlike Mauer’s home run, however, Hardy’s HR would have travelled out of 11 ballparks. This still isn’t a significant amount, but all that matters is that is went out in Anaheim. Five of Hardy’s 11 home runs last year and 10 of his 24 home runs in 2008 were classified as “just enough” so this HR looks like a typical Hardy home run.

The Twins have definitely have a ballclub that could hit for a lot of power throughout the season and possibly end up in the top three teams for home runs in the American League. The additions in the off-season of Hardy and Jim Thome should help the Twins power numbers. Additionally, Mauer Morneau, Kubel, Cuddyer, and a reinvented Delmon Young provide the Twins with a very deep and dangerous line-up. The four home runs so far in 2010 are just the start of what could be a great year for Twins fans who like home runs.

Other Twins Articles to Read Today:

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Tags: Delmon Young, J.J. Hardy, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins