The Los Angeles Dodgers reached uncharted territory in 2018, setting a franchise record by hitting 235 home runs throughout the course of the season. The previous record of 221 was set just a season ago.
Also for the first time in franchise history, seven players hit 20 or more home runs on the year. That does not include Manny Machado and Brian Dozier, who both finished with more than 20 home runs, although they did not all come in a Dodgers uniform.
No one could have guessed that Max Muncy would lead the team in home runs this season, but that is exactly what he did by hitting 35. Muncy had just five career home runs in parts of two seasons with the Oakland Athletics.
Muncy was the only Dodgers player to hit more than 25 home runs, which makes them breaking the franchise record all that more impressive.
After hitting 39 home runs in his rookie season, Cody Bellinger took a bit of a step back in 2018 by only hitting 25. His final one was an important one though as it helped the Dodgers earn a victory over the Colorado Rockies in Game 163 to clinch the National League West.
Joc Pederson also hit 25 home runs on the year, and he set a club record of his own with eight of those being leadoff homers.
Following Bellinger and Pederson was Yasmani Grandal (24 home runs), Yasiel Puig (23), Kiké Hernandez (21), Matt Kemp (21), Chris Taylor (17) and Justin Turner (14).
Hernandez’s 21 were a career-best, shattering his previous high of 11 in 2017, and Kemp’s 21 homers were also particularly impressive considering he wasn’t even expected to be on the team before the start of the season.
The Dodgers’ 235 home runs were the second-most in all of baseball in 2018, behind only the New York Yankees, who set a Major League record with 267.
