Nomar Mazara filled Joey Gallo's typical role by launching a titanic homer of his own
When you think of the Rangers, you probably think of Joey Gallo. Why wouldn't you? With Adrian Beltre retired, he's now the player who most often generates eye-popping highlights.
That's been especially true in 2019, thanks to a tremendous start that saw him blast 17 homers with a 1.074 OPS in just 50 games. And when Gallo goes deep, he goes deep.
Unfortunately, an oblique strain sent Gallo to the IL in early June, and he has yet to return to the Rangers lineup. His teammates, however, have helped keep Texas afloat in the American League Wild Card race with a 12-9 month so far.
Nomar Mazara nicely stepped into Gallo's shoes in more ways than one on Friday night against the White Sox. He gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the first by going yard off Reynaldo Lopez.
It wasn't just that Mazara homered, though -- it was just how far the poor baseball traveled:
505 FOOT HR!!!
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 22, 2019
@NomarMzra26 just TIED the record for furthest HR in Statcast history! pic.twitter.com/FTgN9RmoR2
Not even Gallo has ever reached the rarified 500-foot plateau, and Mazara did it right in Gallo's normal upper-deck territory. Touché.
Perhaps we shouldn't be so stunned. Mazara has crushed some colossal blows of his own, most notably a 491-foot shot against Hector Santiago and the Angels on May 23, 2016. Even that one was a foot further than Gallo's longest-measured homer.
Promise not to overlook you next time, Nomar. You have more than earned our attention.
Andrew Mearns is a writer for Cut4 whose baseball obsession was born from the shattered dreams of Mike Mussina's perfect game attempt in 2001. He has a startling memory of World Series highlights that barely functions as a party trick.
