10 Position Players With Fewer Home Runs Than Bumgarner
We all love pitchers who rake. Madison Bumgarner, who has hit five home runs already this season to lead all pitchers, is at the top of the hitting pitcher class in the MLB (we will never know, dumb American League).
How rare is his five home runs? The last pitcher to do it was Bob Gibson in 1972 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He did it earlier in his career in 1965 and had hit 24 in his career. The last Giant to hit five in a season is a little older than Gibson- Art Nehf of the New York Giants in 1924.
What's more amazing is Bumgarner is hitting a home run once in every 12.2 at-bats - second in the NL behind Giancarlo Stanton.
Looking around the league, it's clear the season Bumgarner is having is a rarity. Here's a list of ten top position players with fewer home runs than Bumgarner this season(Number of home runs to date this season in parentheses):
10. Yadier Molina, C, STL (4)
9. Gregor Blanco, OF, SF (3)
8. Nick Markakis, OF, BAL (2)
7. Dee Gordon, SS, MIA (2)
6. Ichiro Suzuki, OF, MIA (1)
5. Andreltron Simmons, SS, ATL (3)
4. Jean Segura, SS, MIL (4)
3. Michael Morse, OF/1B, MIA/PIT (4)
2. Matt Holiday, OF, STL (4)
1. Casey McGehee, 3B, MIA, (2)
Keep in mind, all of these players have had more than double the at-bats Bumgarner has had. Being a pitcher, he sees pitches from the batters box once every five days, these ten guys have almost everyday to take a hack.
Not bad, Mr. Bumgarner, not bad.