Stanton's long-distance area code: 504 feat

Marlins slugger sets Statcast-era record with moonshot

August 7th, 2016

DENVER -- Marlins slugger put on a show when he won the 2016 Home Run Derby at Petco Park, but he saved the real power for Coors Field.
Stanton's 504-foot homer off in the Marlins' 12-6 loss to the Rockies on Saturday night traveled farther than any he hit in the Derby and set Statcast™ era and Coors Field records.

Rangers outfielder previously had the longest homer in the Majors this season with a 491-foot homer in Arlington on May 25, and had the previous record during the Statcast™ era -- which began in 2015 -- with a 495-foot shot at Wrigley Field on Sept. 6 last season.
Bettis beat Stanton in the previous at-bat when he lined a 3-0 fastball over the plate to right fielder . Stanton wasn't going to let him beat him on a pitch over the plate again.
"I wasn't happy with my 3-0 swing," Stanton said. "It was a good swing, but not the type of attack you should have with that. I said if he throws me that again, do what I should have on the 3-0."
The solo shot was Stanton's 23rd of the season and gave the Marlins a 3-2 lead.
"I made a poor pitch to a guy that's really strong and hits homers. There you go," Bettis said. "It was a solo shot, so I didn't care."
Hall of Famer Mike Piazza previously held the Coors Field record for longest home run, an estimated 496 feet, hit in 1997 while playing for the Dodgers off current Rockies bullpen coach Darren Holmes. However, that distance may not be entirely accurate since it was hit before Statcast™.
The distance on Stanton's home run was even more incredible considering its launch angle of 18.3 degrees, low for a ball that leaves the yard. The blistering 115.8-mph exit velocity helped quite a bit. Gonzalez previously held the record for longest home run with a launch angle less than 20 degrees with a 468-foot homer that had an 18.8-degree launch angle.
"I think we like seeing it fly like that, especially if it's our guys hitting it," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Balls with that trajectory, for a lot of guys it doesn't go out. He hits balls that just keep carrying. He hits them a long way."
Coors Field is notoriously a hitter's ballpark. The average home run there -- 424 feet -- is 16 feet longer than the average homer at any other park. That's the same difference as the second and 28th parks. Additionally, Coors Field has the highest Park Factor for home runs at 1.477, with Yankee Stadium a distant second at 1.303.
"You're very comfortable at the plate knowing that there's a lot of room for the ball to travel, a lot of room for error, a lot of room for it to land and go," Stanton said. "It's always good to hit."
LONGEST HOME RUNS IN THE Statcast™ ERA

  1. Stanton, Marlins -- 504 feet, Aug. 6, 2016, at Coors Field
  2. Bryant, Cubs -- 495 feet, Sept. 6, 2015, at Wrigley Field
  3. Michael Taylor, Nationals -- 493 feet, Aug. 20, 2015, at Coors Field
  4. Mazara, Rangers -- 491 feet, May 25, 2015, at Globe Life Park
  5. , Orioles -- 485 feet, Aug. 26, 2015, at Kauffman Stadium