Kansas City Royals: Jorge Soler breaks single season home run record
By David Hill
The King is dead! Long live the Kansas City Royals home run king!
For a generation, Steve Balboni was the Kansas City Royals single season home run leader, belting 36 homers back in 1985. It took until Mike Moustakas hit 38 home runs in 2017 before Balboni was dethroned, a new home run king taking his crown.
As it turns out, Moustakas’ reign lasted for two years. On Tuesday, Jorge Soler took Daniel Norris‘ 2-2 fastball into the fountains for a three run shot, giving the Royals a 3-1 lead, and establishing a new single season home run leader.
To no one's surprise, the record-breaker for @solerpower12 was an absolute no-doubter. pic.twitter.com/EzS9xr6otV
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 4, 2019
It is a fitting capstone to what has been a breakout season for Soler. Entering Tuesday’s action, he had produced a solid .251/.343/.533 batting line, rewarding the Royals faith in him as he finally had the chance to be an every day player. With three more years of team control, Soler has established himself as a key building block in Kansas City.
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Soler also appears destined to put himself in the Royals record book in another aspect. His next home run will be his 40th of the season, which would make him the first player in franchise history to reach that milestone.
In their 50 years as a major league franchise, the Royals have not been known for power. Over that time frame, there have been only 12 seasons where a player even hit 30 homers, with the 40 home run mark a seemingly impossible feat. However, it is a feat that Soler, barring injury, will be able to reach this year.
It may also come to pass that the Royals no longer have the lowest single season home run mark for their franchise record. Pete Alonso now holds the Mets record, and is just four homers ahead of Soler. Likewise, the Nationals/Expos record of 46, set by Alfonso Soriano, may be within striking distance.
dark. Next. Govern making most of opportunity
The Kansas City Royals have a new single season home run leader. However, Jorge Soler will not be content just to have the crown, as his sights are set on other milestones.