With Max Muncy adding to his historic pace at Coors Field during the weekend series, the Los Angeles Dodgers became just the fifth team in MLB history to have three players hit at least 20 home runs before July 1, per ESPN Stats & Info. Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson have 27 and 20 homers, respectively.
The Dodgers are the first team to accomplish as much since the 2003 Atlanta Braves did so behind Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez and Garry Sheffield. Lopez had 23 homers before July of that season, followed by 22 from Sheffield and Jones’ 20.
The record is one of many accolades Bellinger has been involved in either on a personal level or as part of a collective effort. He broke multiple MLB and Dodgers franchise records before May and was rewarded with National League Player of the Month recognition.
Bellinger reached 20 homers on May 28 against the New York Mets. It was his sixth and final home run during May, after slugging 10 the month prior. Bellinger’s 27 home runs this year have already surpassed last season’s total of 25, hit in 162 games.
The Dodgers are the 5th team to have 3 players reach 20 HR before July in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/UcPhw0YENh
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 29, 2019
Bellinger is within striking distance of the Dodgers’ all-time record for most home runs before the All-Star break — 28 — which is shared by Gil Hodges (1951) and Duke Snider (1955).
Pederson clubbed his 20th homer of the season on June 20 in a 9-8 win against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. It’s a fourth time in the past five years he’s hit at least that many.
Pederson’s production in 2019 is all the more impressive when considering it’s come with him essentially platooning in left field. Though, he’s recently received a string of starts at first base.
Muncy was last in the Dodgers’ trio to reach 20 home runs, doing so with a three-run homer in a wild back-and-forth game at Coors Field on Saturday. The home run was Muncy’s third in two games against the Colorado Rockies.
He led the Dodgers with 35 home runs last season and while Bellinger may set the pace this year, Muncy remains well on his way to setting a new career high.
The Dodgers enter play Sunday with 139 home runs on the season, good for second in the National League and fourth overall. Behind seven players hitting at least 21, set a franchise record with 235 homers in 2018.
