Jorge Soler Home Run Record

Even though the Royals had one of their worst seasons in franchise history, outfielder Jorge Soler has put the team back in some headlines. On Tuesday, September 3rd, Soler blasted his 39th home run of the season over the left center field fence at Kauffman Stadium.

 

That set a Royals single season record for home runs. The previous record was set just two years ago by former Royal and World Series Champion third baseman Mike “Moose” Moustakas. Moose hit 38 homers in the 2017 reason. Before that, the record was held for 32 years by another World Series champion from the 1985 team, first basemen Steve Balboni. Balboni hit 36 in the championship season. Soler ended the regular season with a total of 48 home runs. He ranked third overall in home runs this season.

 

It’s rare to see a Royal at the top in the American league in home runs due to the stadium they play in. Kauffman Stadium has one of the deepest outfields in the MLB, which makes Soler’s power packed season even more impressive. 

Soler is in his third season with the Royals. The team acquired him in 2017 from the Chicago Cubs in a trade for their stud closer, Wade Davis. The Royals took a lot of heat for the move at the time because of Davis’ stardom. 

After some injury problems in Soler’s first couple seasons in Kansas City, it seems the trade has finally paid off. His kind of performance and production this season is exactly what the organization imagined out of him when they traded for him.

It’s clear that the Royals’ shortcomings this season do not fall on the shoulders of Jorge Soler. If Kansas City can surround Soler with better pieces and pitching they can trust, then hopefully they can turn around what has been a rough past couple of seasons.