Will the San Francisco Giants produce a 30-home run hitter for the first time in 21 years?
San Francisco has not had a 30-home run hitter since Barry Bonds in 2004. The American sports media outlet Sports Illustrated reported on the 4th (Korean time) that "San Francisco has repeatedly failed to recruit a big hitter, and its home stadium, Oracle Park, is considered one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in Major League Baseball. Due to this complex set of factors, it is rare for a 30-home run hitter to emerge."
It is also "painful to note that at least one 30-home run hitter emerged from 15 teams last year," adding that "Willie Adames, who joined this season, exceeded 30 home runs last year while with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he has only hit 5 home runs this season, falling short of expectations."
However, there is still hope. The outlet noted that "As of early June, three hitters with over 10 home runs are continuing to challenge for 30 home runs," mentioning Matt Chapman, Elliot Ramos, and Wilmer Flores as candidates.
Chapman, who has hit a total of 192 home runs in the big leagues, had a batting average of .234 (49 hits in 209 at-bats) as of the 3rd, but he has recorded 10 home runs. The outlet remarked that "Chapman is showing a batting feeling reminiscent of his time with the Oakland Athletics," and indicated that "While his average exit velocity ranks in the top 5% of the league, his sweet spot rate for launch angle is only in the bottom 39%." If he improves his launch angle, the number of home runs could increase significantly.
Ramos, who hit 22 home runs last year for a personal season-high record, has a batting average of .295 (66 hits in 224 at-bats) and is recording a .487 slugging percentage with 10 home runs in 58 games this season. Sports Illustrated reported that "Ramos hit 3 home runs in the first 5 games after the season started, but he struggled with no home runs in the next 25 games. However, he regained his pace in May and is currently at 10 home runs, processing the season at a faster pace than Chapman."
The outlet pointed out that Flores, a veteran slugger who recorded a personal season-high of 23 home runs in 2023, is on track to achieve career-high with 10 home runs this season, but his records are notable. They also added that "While he has explosiveness, his consistency is lacking, making the likelihood of achieving 30 home runs relatively low." Sports Illustrated commented, "The silence of 30 home runs continues for the 21st year. Will Chapman and Ramos finally lift San Francisco's long-standing burden? The answer will come in October."
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