Yesterday (April 23, 2022), Red Sox’ rookie LF (and cleanup hitter) Masataka Yoshida became the 60th MLB player to connect for two home runs in a single inning. He accomplished the feat in the eighth innings of the Red Sox’ 12-5 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee. He hit a solo home run to right on a 1-2 pitch from Matt Bush after DH Justin Turner led off the frame with a solo shot to left. Yoshida came up again with two outs in the inning, facing Javy Guerra with the bases loaded. This time, he smacked a Grand Slam to right on an 0-2 pitch. They were Yoshida’s second and third homers of the season.
Yoshida, by the way, was on Baseball Roundtable pre-/early-season watch list. For that post, noting key players to watch for each team, click here for the AL and here for the NL.
The Red Sox signed the Japanese outfielder to a reportedly five-year $90 million deal last December. The 28-year-old is coming off a .335-21-88 season (119 games) in Japan and has shown a combination of power and plate discipline in Nippon Professional Baseball. In seven seasons there, Yoshida averaged .326, with 135 home runs. Perhaps more important, he walked more times (427) than he struck out (307). After his first seventeen games with the Red Sox, Yoshida’s stat line is .231-3-15.
Side note: Some recent articles have indicated only 58 players have hit two home runs in an inning. Those lists do not include early Players League and American Association players (those leagues were added to MLB records in a 1969 ruling). Also, this list may change as Negro Leagues records from 1920-48 are fully documented and incorporated into MLB records.
Now, more on two-homer innings, with a full list to follow.
Two Grand Slams in One Inning
Fernando Tatis – only player with two Grand Slams in one inning.
The most historic two-homer inning belongs to the Cardinals’ Fernando Tatis who, on April 23, 1999, not only hit two homers in an inning – but hit two grand slams in one inning. It was the 11-run third inning of the Cardinals’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers in LA. Equally surprising to BBRT is the fact that Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park was on the mound for both grand slams (the second finally drove Park from the game). Park’s inning went like this: single – hit batsman – single – home run – ground out, first base to pitcher – home run – walk – walk – fielder’s choice – error by first baseman – single – fly out to right field – home run – relieved by Carlos Perez, who got the final out of the inning on a foul pop up.
Teaming Up for a Two-Homer Inning
On May 2, 2002, Brett Boone and Mike Cameron became the only two teammates to hit two home runs in one inning in the same game – and they did it in the same inning (a ten-run first in a 15-4 win over the White Sox) and they did it back-to-back.
Two Times Two = A Record
Only five players have achieved two home runs an inning twice in their careers:
- Jeff King, Pirates (April 8, 1995 and April, 30, 1996);
- Willie McCovey, Giants (April 12, 1973 and June 27, 1977);
- Andre Dawson, Expos (June 30, 1978 and Sept. 24, 1985);
- Alex Rodriguez, Yankees (September 5, 2007 and October 4, 2009).
- Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays and Mariners (July 26, 2013 and April 8, 2019, respectively.
From Both Side Now
The Indians’ Carlos Baerga (August 8, 1993), the Cubs’ Mark Bellhorn (August 29, 2002) and the Angels’c Kendrys Morales (July 30, 2012) are the only players to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning.
Two in One Frame … How About Two More?
The Braves’ (Boston) Bobby Lowe (May 30, 1894) and Mariners’ Mike Cameron (May 2, 2002) each achieved a two-homer inning in the midst of a record four-homer game.
Team Totals
The Giants have had the most two-homer innings accomplished by individual players with seven. The Yankees follow with six, the Red Sox and Expos/Nationals ranked third with five. (All five Expos/Nationals two-homer player innings were accomplished in Expos’ uniforms.) The Mets, White Sox, Royals, Diamondbacks and, surprisingly, high-altitude Rockies have never had a player with a two-home inning.
Lucky Seven
In 2002, a record seven MLB players produce a two-home inning.
Here is your two-homer inning list:
2023, April 23 …. Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox
2022, September 21 … Gleyber Torres, Yankees
2019, April 19 … Edwin Encarnacion, Mariners
2016, April 15 … Mark Trumbo, Orioles
2013, July 26 … Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
2012, August 22 … Adrian Beltre, Rangers
2012, July 30 … Kendrys Morales, Angels
2011, Sept. 18 … Pablo Sandoval, Giants
2010, Sept. 23 … Juan Uribe, Giants
2009, October 4 … Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
2009, August 23 … Michael Cuddyer, Twins
2008, August 12 … David Ortiz, Red Sox
2008, June 21 … Jim Edmonds, Cubs
2007, Sept. 5 … Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
2007, August 12 … Magglio Ordonez, Tigers
2007, May 7 … Benji Molina, Giants
2006, July 22 … Julio Lugo, Rays
2004, June 19 … Juan Rivera, Expos
2003, August 20 … Reggie Sanders, Pirates
2002, August 29 … Mark Bellhorn, Cubs
2002, August 9 … Aaron Boone, Reds
2002, July 26 … Carl Everett, Rangers
2002, July 23 … Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox
2002, June 11 … Jared Sandberg, Rays
2002, May 2 … Mike Cameron, Mariners
2002, May 2 … Brett Boone, Mariners
2000, August 22 … Eric Karros, Dodgers
1999, April 23 … Fernando Tatis, Cardinals
1997, July 13 … Gary Sheffield, Marlins
1997, May 7 … Mike Lansing, Expos
1996, Sept. 22 … Mark McGwire, A’s
1996, May 17 … Dave Nilsson, Brewers
1996, May 16 … Sammy Sosa, Cubs
1996, April 30 … Jeff King, Pirates
1995, April 8 … Jeff King, Pirates
1994, June 24 … Jeff Bagwell, Astros
1993, Oct. 3 … Joe Carter, Blue Jays
1993, April 8 … Carlos Baerga, Indians
1990, August 27 … Ellis Burks, Red Sox
1989, July 27 … Dale Murphy, Braves
1985, Sept. 24 … Andre Dawson, Expos
1985, June 11 … Von Hayes, Phillies
1980, May 13 … Ray Knight, Reds
1978, July 30 …Andre Dawson, Expos
1977, June 30 … Cliff Johnson, Yankees
1977, June 27 … Willie McCovey, Giants
1974, April 29 … Lee May, Astros
1973, July 6 … John Boccabella, Expos
1973, April 12 … Willie McCovey, Giants
1966, April 30 … Rick Reichardt, Angels
1962, May 23 … Joe Pepitone, Yankees
1959, Sept. 4 … Jim Lemon, Senators
1955, April 17 … Al Kaline Tigers
1949, July 31 … Sid Gordon, Giants
1949, June 2 … Andy Seminick, Phillies
1936, June 24 … Joe DiMaggio, Yankees
1935, August 24 … Hank Leiber, Giants
1928, June 16 … Bill Regan, Red Sox
1925, July 1 … Hack Wilson, Giants
1922, August 7 … Kenny Williams, Browns
1894, June 6 … Jake Stenzel, Pirates
1894, June 30 … Bobby Lowe, Braves
1890, September 23 … Ed Cartwright, St. Louis Browns, American Association
1890, September 12 … Lou Bierbauer, Brooklyn Ward’s Wonders, Player League
1880, June 10 … Charley Jones, Braves
Primary Resources: Baseball-Almanac.com; Baseball-Reference.com
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