Baseball is a young man’s game, at least that’s how it has seemed this season.
From Mike Trout and Carlos Correa continuing to build on a strong start to their careers to rookies and sophomores breaking home run records that have stood for decades, it was another great week to be one of MLB’s young stars.
All this and more were highlighted by STATS Insights, which provides unique storylines generated by our dedicated research team and backed by nearly 40 years of sports data collection. Stats Perform’s one-of-a-kind Insights can enhance fan engagement and increase second-screen usage before, during and after the world’s biggest sporting events through advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
As the NFL and college football seasons get started in the next few weeks, we are excited to be able to bring captivating information beyond just MLB. STATS Insights is also available for NBA, NHL and college basketball.
For the time being, we’ll happily stay focused on America’s pastime. So without further ado, here are some of this past week’s top Insights:
Gleyber Torres has homered in both games of a doubleheader against Baltimore for the second time this season. The last player to homer in both games of two doubleheaders against an opponent in the same season was Mike Schmidt in 1983 against Montreal (June 21 and September 14).
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) August 13, 2019
The 2019 matchups between the Yankees and Orioles have brought us some incredible statistics, or nightmarish ones if you happen to be a Baltimore fan. The Bronx Bombers’ young, power-hitting lineup has been torching the league overall, but they really seem to kick it up a notch when they face the woeful O’s.
Torres has played a leading role in the Yankees’ 17-2 record in the season series. In the 19 meetings, the second-year infielder had team highs with 22 runs, 26 hits, a 1.045 slugging percentage, a 1.512 OPS and 13 home runs – nearly half of his season homer total (29) entering the week.
Last Monday, Torres continued his dominance by putting on a show in a doubleheader against Baltimore for the second time this year. The Phillies’ Schmidt did not perform at the same level against the Expos in 1983 as the Hall of Fame third baseman only batted .209 with seven homers over his 18 matchups that season.
Here is Torres’ third home run of the day in Game 2 of the doubleheader against Baltimore last Monday:
The @Angels' Mike Trout now has 25+ home runs and 10+ steals in all 8 full seasons.
Trout is the 1st player in AL history and the 4th in MLB history with 8+ straight 25/10 seasons:
Barry Bonds: 12 (1990-2001)
Darryl Strawberry: 9 (1983-91)
Willie Mays: 8 (1955-62)#TheHaloWay— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) August 15, 2019
More Trout stats? Yeah, we can’t help it, he’s just too good. The 28-year-old perennial MVP candidate figures to have at least a few more great seasons left, so we expect him to continue shattering records. Trout once again joins an elite group with his eighth straight season with 25 homers and 10 stolen bases.
The Giants’ Mays missed out on a ninth consecutive season with 25 and 10 by two steals in ’63, though he would get back to those marks the following season with 47 longballs and 19 swipes. Strawberry’s career took a turn for the worst following the ’91 season as it was the last time he finished with 25 homers or 10 steals despite playing eight more seasons.
Bonds put an exclamation point on his 12-year run by launching a single-season record 73 home runs in 2001 while also swiping 13 bases. And while he would never steal that many again, Bonds belted 26 homers or more in five of his last six seasons – the only exception coming in ’05 when he went deep five times in just 14 games.
The @astros' Carlos Correa is the third shortstop in MLB history to hit 100+ home runs before turning 25, joining Alex Rodriguez and Cal Ripken Jr.#TakeItBack
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) August 16, 2019
There is no doubt Correa is one of the league’s most exciting talents, but to be on a shortlist of greats like Ripken and A-Rod shows just how good he’s been for the Astros. The 24-year-old is the second-youngest shortstop in MLB history to reach 100 home runs, with A-Rod being the youngest (23).
All three reached the 100-homer mark in their fifth season. Ripken had an OPS of .816 and A-Rod posted a .919 mark that year, while Correa has a .917 OPS entering the week.
Here is the second of a two-homer performance against Oakland’s Mike Fiers on Thursday that gave Correa 100 home runs for his career:
Mike Yastrzemski of the @SFGiants is the third rookie in the last WEEK to hit 3 home runs in a game (Houston's Yordan Alvarez & Cincinnati's Aristides Aquino).
There had never been more than 2 rookies with a 3-HR game in an entire SEASON entering 2019.#SFGiants #STATSInsights
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) August 17, 2019
From the Mets’ Pete Alonso competing for the home run crown to the heavy-hitting Vladimir Guerrero of the Blue Jays setting multiple Home Run Derby records, it has been an outstanding season for rookies. This past week showed us just how deep this rookie class is with three – yes, THREE – first-year players going yard three times in a single game.
Yastrzemski, Alvarez and Aquino have shattered expectations for their respective teams, but just how influential have they been?
If each of these rookies hit at this pace for 162 games, Yastrzemski would have 36 home runs, Alvarez would hit 58 and Aquino would end up with a ridiculous 99. Yastrzemski is second on the playoff-hopeful Giants with 16 homers entering the week despite only playing in 72 games, while Alvarez is just three dingers shy of Correa’s Astros rookie-record of 22 set in 2015.
