Soriano not only delivers a Puig-worthy performance, but makes history in the process.
Home runs should be celebrated, and not just by fans, but by those hitting them. Thankfully, Yankees' outfielder Alfonso Soriano knows this, and graced us with elite homer pimpage that Yasiel Puig would be proud of in Tuesday's game against the Orioles.
It's not enough to see Soriano crush that ball 401 feet into the left field bleachers, sending a 91 mile per hour Wei-Yin Chen offering back at 105 per dinger database Hit Tracker Online. A homer like that needs a separate camera to just stay on Soriano as he admires the blast, his first of the 2014 season:
It came in a losing Yankees' effort, sure, but it did tie Soriano with Hall of Fame Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Duke Snider on the all-time home run list. Soriano's next bomb, the 408th of his career, will put him ahead of the Duke of Flatbush, giving the 38-year-old sole possession of 50th place on the career list.
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A pitcher and his shortstop ![]()
Quite a few players are bunched together at that segment of the all-time homer rankings, and while Soriano likely only has a few years left before he hangs 'em up, he could climb so long as he continues to keep the above swing intact. Next up is Darrell Evans with 414, Billy Williams at 426, Mike Piazza at 427, and Cal Ripken at 431. It'll be a bit harder to catch moving target David Ortiz (432), but jumping five spots in a single season is impressive enough, and believable considering Soriano's 92 homers over the last three years.