Joc Pederson hits two of the furthest home runs of the season on the same day
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson has shown off plenty of power during his rookie season. That was to be expected after Pederson clobbered 33 bombs in the minors last year.
For those reasons, Pederson’s plate appearances at Coors Field should be a must-watch. After hitting a home run Monday, Pederson did not disappoint during his encore Tuesday.
During Game 1 of the team’s doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Pederson absolutely crushed a two-run shot in the third inning. With Jorge De La Rosa on the mound, Pederson sent an 87 mph cutter 477 feet out to right center. The blast was the fifth-longest home run hit this season, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
That wasn’t enough for Pederson. In Game 2, he struck again. In the third inning, Pederson sent a 91 mph fastball from David Hale out to dead center. This blast wound up traveling 472 feet, which measures as the 10th-longest home run this year.
If you’re keeping track at home, Pederson hit two balls a combined 949 feet in one day. Pederson would also show off his wheels in Game 2, hitting his first triple of the season. With the hits, Pederson increased his slugging percentage from .550 to .588.
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The 23-year-old is currently on pace to hit 50 home runs, which would be a record for a rookie. With the early performance, Pederson has put himself in the lead for the National League Rookie of the Year award. With Kris Bryant lurking, though, that competition is far from over.
A few years ago, we had Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. Now, it’s starting to look like Pederson and Bryant will represent the next great debate.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik