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2019 is the year of the home run

Jonathan Villar hitting the 6,106th home run of 2019.
Jonathan Villar hitting the 6,106th home run of 2019. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Orioles infielder Jonathan Villar hit the 6,106th home run of 2019 last night, officially breaking the MLB single-season record with 3 weeks left to spare.

By the numbers: Last season, just 3 players hit 40+ HR. This season, 6 players have already accomplished that feat and plenty more are closing in.

  • Pete Alonso, NYM (47)
  • Mike Trout, LAA (45)
  • Christian Yelich, MIL (44)
  • Eugenio Suarez, CIN (44)
  • Cody Bellinger, LAD (44)
  • Jorge Soler, KC (43)

Team leaders: Both the Twins (277) and Yankees (276) have blown past the previous single-season mark (267), and an incredible 16 teams are on pace to set a franchise record.

  • Minnesota Twins (277)
  • New York Yankees (276)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers (259)
  • Houston Astros (254)
  • Oakland A's (232)

The irony: The fact that the record-setting dinger was hit by a member of the 2019 Orioles — the team that has surrendered more of them than any team in history (by a lot) — is hilarious.

Go deeper: MLB accused of juicing baseballs following historic home run surge

Major League Baseball (MLB)