Home runs were the story of the 2022 season. From Albert Pujols’ pursuit of No. 700 in the final season of his Hall of Fame-worthy career to Aaron Judge breaking Roger Maris’ 61-year-old American League home run record, we had plenty of opportunities to appreciate the majesty of the long ball. So, as per tradition, we have compiled a list of the 11 longest home runs of the past season (two players tied at No. 10) as measured by Statcast.
First, just a few notes on our top 11:
With that out of the way, let’s take a look back at the most magnificent power displays of 2022.
1. C.J. Cron, Rockies: 504 ft
Sept. 9 vs. D-backs
Cron’s best-of-2022 moonshot is one that needs to be seen to be believed. Three players have officially recorded home runs of 500+ feet since Statcast began tracking in 2015 – Cron became the latest (and the first since 2019) in September when he absolutely destroyed this four-seamer from Arizona’s Keynan Middleton.
2. Christian Yelich, Brewers: 499 ft
Sept. 6 vs. Rockies
Though Yelich didn’t rediscover his home run stroke in 2022 – he hit just 14 across 154 games – he certainly came into some power in this at-bat against Chad Kuhl.
3. Jesús Sánchez, Marlins: 496 ft
May 30 vs. Rockies
In another incredible display for a player not well known for his power in 2022 (on average, he homered once every 24 at-bats), Sánchez set the bar high for Coors Field blasts when he came just short of 500 feet against Ryan Feltner in May.
4. Ryan McMahon, Rockies: 495 ft
Aug. 9 vs. Cardinals
Cron may have led the pack in 2022, but teammate McMahon wasn’t far behind him – just check out how he walloped this pitch from T.J. McFarland.
5. Mike Trout, Angels: 490 ft
Oct. 5 vs. A’s
Limited to 119 games on the season, the odds of Trout hitting 40 home runs were pretty low. The odds, however, can’t account for generational talent. Trout’s blast off Norge Ruiz on the final day of the regular season didn’t just mark a monumental personal accomplishment – it was also the longest home run by an Angel since Statcast began tracking in 2015.
6. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies: 488 ft
NLCS Game 1 vs. Padres
The NLCS between the Padres and Phillies was epic, and Schwarber was one of the main architects of the spectacle. His first of three home runs in the series was this stunner against Yu Darvish in Game 1, which, through 2022, is the second-longest postseason home run since 2015.
7. C.J. Cron, Rockies: 486 ft
June 17 vs. Padres
One of two players to appear twice in the top 11, we can only assume Cron was warming up for the 504-footer with this slightly shorter shot against MacKenzie Gore.
8. Gary Sánchez, Twins: 473 ft
Sept. 5 vs. Yankees
Playing his first game as a visitor at Yankee Stadium after six seasons in pinstripes, Sánchez looked perfectly at home in this at-bat against Jameson Taillon.
9. Mike Trout, Angels: 472 ft
April 14 vs. Rangers
As if the 490-footer wasn’t enough, Trout makes a second appearance on this list with this shot off Dane Dunning for his second home run of the season.
10. (tie) Yordan Alvarez, Astros: 469 ft
May 30 vs. A’s
Alvarez is well known for punishing Oakland – as of the end of the 2022 season, he’s hit 17 home runs against A’s pitching, far and away the most he has against any club – and he carried on the tradition with this blast off Paul Blackburn in May.
10. (tie) Byron Buxton, Twins: 469 ft
April 24 vs. White Sox
This absolute bomb against Liam Hendriks – the longest of Buxton’s career to date – came at the most opportune time, down a run with two men on in the bottom of the 10th. And it’s not your average 469-foot walk-off home run — it’s the longest walk-off shot tracked by Statcast.