Video highlights of the ten longest home runs hit by the Detroit Tigers in 2015, updated throughout the season.
Apr 13, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates with first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) after Martinez after hit a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Tigers power output hasn’t always been consistent during the 2015 season, but they have already hit some impressive home runs.
Here we track the top ten longest home runs of the season (with video!) and we will update the top ten as new home runs knock older home runs off the list.
All home run distances are per the ESPN Home Run Tracker true distance. The ESPN Home Run Tracker defines true distance as follows:
"If the home run flew uninterrupted all the way back to field level, the actual distance the ball traveled from home plate, in feet. If the ball’s flight was interrupted before returning all the way down to field level (as is usually the case), the estimated distance the ball would have traveled if its flight had continued uninterrupted all the way down to field level."
Before we get to the top ten, let’s start with an honorable mention.
Apr 29, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) congratulates catcher James McCann (34) on his inside the park home run in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run Honorable Mention
True Distance: 409 feet
Hitter: James McCann
Date: April 29, 2015
Opponent: Minnesota Twins
Stadium: Target Field
Pitcher: Aaron Thompson
An inside the park home run isn’t what anyone has in mind when they think of a long ball but McCann’s late-April shot off the center field wall at Target Field makes the cut thanks to McCann’s hustle around the bases.
Believe it or not, this home run was one of the Tigers’ top ten longest until Miguel Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes each hit home runs on May 15 to knock McCann off the board. Despite not leaving Target Field, ESPN’s Home Run Tracker notes that McCann’s ball would have been a home run in 22 parks.
Now on with the home runs!
Next: Number Ten
Aug 18, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez drives in a run with a sacrifice fly against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #10
True Distance: 438 feet
Hitter: J.D. Martinez
Date: August 18, 2015
Opponent: Chicago Cubs
Stadium: Wrigley Field
Pitcher: Jason Hammel
The Detroit Tigers enjoyed a two-game set of offensive firepower against the Cubs, with this first inning homer by J.D. Martinez being the longest of the ten the Tigers hit at Wrigley.
Next: Number Nine
May 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) celebrates his two run home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #9
True Distance: 438 feet
Hitter: Nick Castellanos
Date: May 21, 2015
Opponent: Houston Astros
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Scott Feldman
It’s easy to identify an impressive home run to left or left-center at Comerica Park because it not only clear the current fence but the original fence as well.
Most of the time that happens over the Tigers bullpen closer down the line, but Nick Castellanos cleared the Astros bullpen, putting a ball in some of the toughest seats for a hitter to reach.
Next: Number Eight
Jun 13, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) runs the bases after he hits a home run off Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (27) in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #8
True Distance: 441 feet
Hitter: J.D. Martinez
Date: June 13, 2015
Opponent: Cleveland Indians
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Bryan Shaw
J.D. Martinez got into the act of what was a big weekend of big flies against the Cleveland Indians by not only clearing the fence in center field, but also the first row of hedges.
Next: Number Seven
Jul 25, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) is all smiles after the Detroit Tigers defeat of the Boston Red Sox 5-1 at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #7
True Distance: 445 feet
Hitter: Nick Castellanos
Date: July 26, 2015
Opponent: Boston Red Sox
Stadium: Fenway Park
Pitcher: Eduardo Rodriguez
The Green Monster is the big wall Fenway Park is known for, but the wall in center field is also pretty big and pretty far away. Nick Castellanos doesn’t care.
Next: Number Six
Apr 29, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) rounds the bases after his home run in the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 10-7. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #6
True Distance: 446 feet
Hitter: Miguel Cabrera
Date: April 29, 2015
Opponent: Minnesota Twins
Stadium: Target Field
Pitcher: Tim Stauffer
The thrill of an upper deck home run was lost with the move from Tiger Stadium to Comerica Park, but visits to places like Minnesota’s Target Field presents Tigers sluggers with that opportunity.
Next: Number Five
Jul 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) runs the bases after hitting a grand slam off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Mike Montgomery (37) in the third inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #5
True Distance: 448 feet
Hitter: Nick Castellanos
Date: July 22, 2015
Opponent: Seattle Mariners
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Mike Montgomery
This Nick Castellanos home run checks all the boxes for a big home run: 448 feet in distance, grand slam, gave the Tigers a 5-0 lead in a game in which Anibal Sanchez had an uneven performance.
Next: Number Four
Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder J.D. Martinez (28) hits an RBI double in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #4
True Distance: 448 feet
Hitter: J.D. Martinez
Date: July 17, 2015
Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Ubaldo Jimenez
Over the left field wall, over the visitor’s bullpen, over the first several rows of seats. Anyone who has been to Comerica Park knows that is a long way to hit a baseball.
Next: Number Three
Jun 14, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) runs the bases after he hits a home run in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #3
True Distance: 450 feet
Hitter: Miguel Cabrera
Date: June 14, 2015
Opponent: Cleveland Indians
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Corey Kluber
Fans can go weeks, even months, without seeing a ball go over the center field fence at Comerica Park, but Miguel Cabrera made it twice in one weekend with this monster home run.
Next: Number Two
Jun 9, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a single in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #2
True Distance: 452 feet
Hitter: Miguel Cabrera
Date: June 12, 2015
Opponent: Cleveland Indians
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Danny Salazar
It’s usually tough enough to clear the 420 ft. center field fence at Comerica Park, but Miguel Cabrera did one better than that here with a rocket blast off the camera well.
This was the longest home run hit at Comerica Park in over a year and a half when he hit it.
Next: Number One
Jul 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) receives congratulations from designated hitter Victor Martinez (41) after he hits a two run home run in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Home Run #1
True Distance: 466 feet
Hitter: J.D. Martinez
Date: July 21, 2015
Opponent: Seattle Mariners
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Tijuan Walker
A home run clearing the Comerica Park wall in center is a rare sight. Even rarer is a ball that lands in the second row of shrubs. Where J.D. Martinez reached with this blast is nearly unprecedented as he cleared the camera well.
It was the longest home run at Comerica Park since 2012 when Miguel Cabrera also hit a 466-foot blast (watch here).