June 21 (UPI) — Fans at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City witnessed a record-breaking moment as Jo Adell of the Salt Lake Bees launched a 514-foot home run, the longest in the history of the Statcast era.
This remarkable feat occurred during a game against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, where Adell hit a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning. Although the Bees suffered a 12-11 loss, Adell’s outstanding performance left spectators in awe.
“I happened to get a pitch that was over the plate, and I put probably one of my best swings ever on it,” Adell said, as reported by MLB.com.
Adell’s monumental home run came at a crucial moment in the game, with two outs and two runners on base, while the Bees were trailing 11-8. After three consecutive balls from the Space Cowboys’ relief pitcher Austin Hansen, Adell seized the opportunity and crushed a pitch in the middle of the strike zone, sending it soaring over the left center field fence and clearing a small grass hill.
This historic shot, which left Adell’s bat at a staggering 113.6 mph, not only holds the record for the longest hit this season in both Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball, but it also surpasses all previous Statcast-era home run distances since its inception in 2015.
In addition to this remarkable achievement, Adell showcased his overall prowess in the game, going 1 for 5 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. Across 61 games with the Bees, Adell has maintained an impressive .284 batting average, alongside his 20 home runs, 50 RBIs, 28 walks, 13 doubles, and five steals.
Although Adell has primarily excelled in the Triple-A league, he also made a significant impact in his sole appearance this season for the Los Angeles Angels, hitting a home run that contributed to the team’s victory over the Chicago Cubs on June 8.
With his consistent performance, Adell has established himself as a standout player since being drafted as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. In the previous season, he recorded a batting average of .224 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs, 12 doubles, 11 walks, and two triples in 88 games for the Angels. Throughout his four-year career in the big leagues, Adell possesses a .215 average with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs.
It is worth mentioning that the previous record for the longest MLB home run in the Statcast era was held by former Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Maraza, who hit a 505-foot blast against the Chicago White Sox on June 21, 2019.
