As Alex Rodriguez closes in on another home run milestone, he's leaving very little doubt that he's still among the most powerful and productive hitters in MLB.
On Friday night at Tropicana Field, the New York Yankees slugger connected for career home runs No. 657 and 658, which moved him to within two of Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time home run list. If that wasn't enough, he also came through in the eighth inning with a go-ahead RBI single, which held up as the difference in New York's 5-4 victory.
It was a breakthrough game for A-Rod on several levels. But purely from a power perspective, it proved that he can still change a game at any time with one swing.
Both of his home runs on Friday were no doubters, but his first against Rays right-hander Nate Karms was especially notable. According to ESPN's home run tracker, the home run traveled an estimated 477 feet, which tops Steven Souza Jr.'s 463-foot homer at Rogers Centre on April 14 for the longest in MLB this season.
Granted, we're still early in the season. The likelihood 477 feet holds up all season is small, especially with guys like Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Trout swinging every day. In fact, both men topped that number last season, but 477 feet is 477 feet any way you slice it, and for a guy whose career seemed over following his year-long suspension in 2014 and a second hip surgery, it's almost unbelievable.
ESPN Stats and Info adds that A-Rod's home run is the longest hit by any Yankees player over the past 10 seasons, and it's the longest at Tropicana Field over that same span.
For what's it worth, MLBAM's tracking system has the home run estimated at 471 feet. But the consensus agrees that baseball was crushed.
As was his second home run, a two-run shot off Ernesto Frieri which tied the game 4-4 in the sixth inning.
Also worth noting, A-Rod (1,925) officially moved passed Derek Jeter (1,923) for ninth place on the all-time runs scored list. Next up on the list is Stan Musial at 1,949.
Needless to say, A-Rod is all the way back, and he's determined to make this season as interesting as possible.
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