Anthony Santander didn’t hit a home run for the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night, but he’s been making notable home run history this week.
On August 7, Santander, the Orioles’ right fielder, hit a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Despite going 0-for-4 in Friday’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, Santander’s recent performances have been impressive.
Since early June, Santander has hit 25 home runs in just 60 games. This achievement places him alongside Mickey Mantle (1956 and 1961) and Chipper Jones (1999) as the only switch-hitters in MLB history to record 25 or more home runs in a 60-game stretch within a single season.
Currently, Santander has 34 homers, 78 RBI, and an .841 OPS this season. With the Orioles leading the American League East by half a game over the Yankees, thanks to their victory and a strong outing from starting pitcher Zach Eflin, Santander is focused on helping the team win its first World Series since 1983 before becoming a free agent at the end of the year.
The Orioles will face the Rays again on Saturday night, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET. Corbin Burnes will be on the mound for Baltimore, while Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen, making his first start since early last season after surgery, will pitch for the Rays.
