Detroit Tigers: 10 Longest Home Runs of 2016
The Detroit Tigers hit plenty of home runs over the course of the 2016 season. Here is a video recap of their ten longest home runs of the season.
The Detroit Tigers‘ inconsistent play forced them to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. Although the offense was shaky at times, there was no doubt about their constant power display. They combined for a total of 211 home runs, which was good for sixth in the American League. Five players hit at least 20 homers, with Miguel Cabrera leading the pack at 38.
If you miss Tigers’ baseball already, then you’re certainly not alone. Take a walk down memory lane below, as we look back at the top ten longest home runs over the course of their 2016 campaign.
The true home run distances can be found courtesy of ESPN Home Run Tracker. According to the tracker, a true distance of a home run is defined as:
"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 kick it off with #10, let’s take a look at an honorable mention.
Home Run Honorable Mention
True Distance: 443
Hitter: J.D. Martinez
Date: August 20, 2016
Opponent: Boston Red Sox
Stadium: Comerica Park
Pitcher: Heath Hembree
The Tigers certainly missed Martinez’s big bat when a broken elbow forced him to miss nearly seven weeks of play in June and July. When he did return, though, he did stuff like this.
Rarely does a ball find its way past the Tigers’ bullpen in Comerica, but Martinez did it with ease with this blast off Hembree. The 443-foot blast left Martinez’s bat at 111.8 mph, and cut the Boston Red Sox’ deficit to just one run in their August 20 contest.
Despite Martinez’s efforts, the Tigers were edged by the Sox, 3-2. Martinez’s solo blast earned himself an honorable mention on the list of the longest homers of the season.
Now on to the top ten!