The Boston Red Sox have now hit 6 first-inning home runs this season, which is the most in the American League. Only the Arizona Diamondbacks have had more in MLB. Some of the players who have hit these home runs on the Red Sox are Tyler O’Neill, Triston Casas, and Reese McGuire. It should come as no surprise that O’Neill and Triston have also hit home runs in the first inning in more than one game.
Red Sox Lead AL With 6 First-inning Home Runs
Boston Red Sox Offense
⭐️ #RedSox have now hit 6 first-inning home runs this season, but those are the first 2 they've hit on the road. The 6 first-inning home runs are the most in American League. Only #Diamondbacks have had more in #MLB (8).
— Red Sox Nation Stats (@RSNStats) April 19, 2024
Some teams certainly struggle with scoring runs early, and the Toronto Blue Jays are one of those teams. They haven’t scored as many runs in the first inning as other teams. It’s certainly an advantage to get ahead early in games; hitting home runs also significantly helps with that. O’Neill is having a solid start to his season with the Red Sox. He has 15 hits, 8 RBIs, 11 walks, a .313 batting average, and seven home runs. Casas has 18 hits, five home runs, 9 RBIs, and a .243 batting average. McGuire has two home runs, 11 hits, right RBIs, a stolen base, and a .275 batting average.
The Red Sox now have hit the second most homers in all of baseball with 28. O’Neill is projected to have a strong season, and if he remains healthy, he will hit about 25 home runs. He came into the season with an encouraging mindset, and so far, he’s had a strong start to his season. For Casas, he is only the 10th player ever to record at least 35 home runs and 100 walks in their first 180 career games.
In addition, Casas also has the most home runs in the first 180 games of his career with the Red Sox. The Red Sox are really going to regret not working out an extension with Casas in about six months. He’s already the top first baseman in the AL. The home run he hit in Friday evening’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was a solo home run for the Red Sox. Casas came on a 94.0 mph sinker from Pirates Quinn Priester. The spin rate was 2,117 RPM. The pitch was barreled at 106.1 mph with a 29° launch angle. The estimated distance was 413 feet.
Triston Casas goes yard in the 1st inning!
© Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports pic.twitter.com/CIIqhMBiaO
— WEEI Red Sox Network (@SoxBooth) April 19, 2024
Red Sox Long Balls
The Red Sox are certainly good at hitting dingers. Getting ahead early on in games is evidently one of their strong suits. Basically, the Red Sox have been launching bombs and have gotten ahead early in games. They find themselves at the bottom of the AL, but many games are still to be played. Everyone is waiting to see how the standings will be at the All-Star Break.
Main Photo Credits: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports