Dodgers Videos: Joc Pederson’s 480-Foot Home Run, First MLB Triple
Joc Pederson was only one day removed from hitting his first home run off a left-handed pitcher in the Majors when he did it again. His second time around came in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader and reached the deck above the Colorado Rockies’ bullpen at Coors Field, traveling 477 feet.
Pederson’s home run gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the third inning of a game they would go on to lose. After a couple of hours passed, the two teams were back on the field to start the finale of a long day of baseball. After grounding out in his first at-bat Tuesday night, Pederson connected on another towering third-inning home run:
According to ESPN’s Stats & Info, Pederson’s 16th home run of the season, which leads the Dodgers and all rookies, traveled 480 feet:
.@Dodgers OF Joc Pederson just hit the longest HR in MLB this season pic.twitter.com/gTPfb9bAtV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2015
MLB’s Statcast logged the solo shot at 472 feet with a 109 MPH exit velocity, which nonetheless is still impressive. ESPN added more perspective to Pederson’s moonshots this season:
Giancarlo Stanton's longest HR as a rookie was 436 feet.
Dodgers OF Joc Pederson has 6 HR of at least that distance this season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2015
While the Dodgers’ rookie center fielder has largely embodied the three true outcomes label, Pederson added another first to what’s likely to be a long list of career accomplishments by hitting a triple in the seventh inning:
Pederson’s big night at the plate was certainly needed, it got overshadowed somewhat by Alex Guerrero’s ninth-inning grand slam with not only two outs, but the Dodgers also down to their final strike. Pederson is on pace to slug 50 home runs this season, which would break Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire’s rookie record of 49 home runs in 1987.
It would also set a new Dodgers rookie record, which is currently held by Mike Piazza, who hit 35 home runs en route to being named National League Rookie of the Year in 1993. While ESPN’s Dave Schoenfield recently ranked Adrian Gonzalez and Pederson as one of the best duos in baseball, the center fielder and Guerrero are first and second among rookies in home runs with 16 and 10, respectively. Minor footnote — Guerrero is tied with Steven Souza Jr. for second
[divide]Joc Pederson Discusses Being Pranked By Teammates
