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Interesting Tweet today, with two D-backs among the MLB home-run leaders on a per-inning basis.
Most HR by inning:
— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) August 20, 2019
1st: 12 Eugenio Suarez
2nd: 8 Kole Calhoun
3rd: 8 Anthony Rizzo
4th: 8 Eduardo Escobar
5th: 8 Jose Altuve
6th: 10 Mike Trout
7th: 9 Cody Bellinger
8th: 7 Javier Baez
9th: 7 Carson Kelly
Extras: 3 P Sandoval and S Marte
I thought it might be interesting to dig into the Diamondbacks’ history, and see who leads the team across each inning. So here are the Arizona franchise record holders, for home-runs in a season by frame:
- 1st: Paul Goldschmidt (2018) - 13
- 2nd: Mark Reynolds (2009) and Ryan Roberts (2011) - 6
- 3rd: Luis Gonzalez (2001) - 8
- 4th: Mark Reynolds (2010) - 10
- 5th: Luis Gonzalez (2001) - 8
- 6th: Jay Bell (1999) - 9
- 7th: Luis Gonzalez (2001) - 10
- 8th: Three tied with 6
- 9th: Jake Lamb (2016) and Carson Kelly (2019) - 7
- Extras: Seven tied with 2
No real surprise to see Gonzo’s 2001 campaign appear three times on the list, considering he hit 13 more home-runs that season than any other Diamondbacks. I was initially surprised to see Reynolds, but I’d forgotten that he had 44 homers in total that year, the only player bar Gonzalez to reach the forty mark. Of course, his 223 SO is still the all-time record for a single season, having withstood even the recent surge in strikeouts. Roberts is the name I would not have expected to see on the list. Also impressed to see Kelly having tied for the franchise record in the ninth already, despite having only appeared 88 times this year so far. Curious to see where his home-run tally ends up.
There haven’t been many catchers lately who reached 20 HR during their age 25 seasons or younger. Outside of Wilin Rosario, who gets a big ol’ asterisk, due to playing for Colorado, the only other have been Mike Zunino, who had 22 for the 2014 Mariners, and Gary Sanchez who hit 33 for the Yankees in 2017. Curiously, Kelly’s colleague, Alex Avila, fell just short, reaching 19 as a 24-year-old for Detroit in 2011. Then again: it’s the balls, stupid. For I also note, Arizona has already hit 33 homers against the Rockies this year. That’s tied with last season against the Dodgers, for a franchise best versus any single opponent in a season, with two games against Colorado still to play.
One roster move for the Diamondbacks. With the bullpen back in a better place after the last couple of games, Bo Takahashi has been optioned back to the minors, the team recalling Ildemaro Vargas in his place. Takahashi will indeed be a “ghost Diamondback,” at least for now - someone who was on the roster, but never took the mound. Joel Payamps is also in the same category, but at least he is still down there in the bullpen, potentially awaiting his first call-up. We’ll see if tonight turns out to be the charm for Joel.