Everyone was surprised by the large arch. Seattle Mariners’ Jared Kelnick hits the longest home run in team history.

On the 13th (Korean time), Kellnick started as the 6th hitter and left fielder in an away game against the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) Chicago Cubs held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and recorded 2 hits and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats, including a home run, and scored the team’s led to a 5-2 victory. His batting average rose from 0.333 to 0.351.안전놀이터

Kelnick, who made a hit in the first at-bat, struck out and grounded in the next two at-bats. It was in the top of the 8th inning, when the team was leading 4-1, that his presence was revealed. With a ball count of 2-0, he hit Julian Meriweather’s 3rd fastball and fired a solo shot over the middle right wall.

According to Statcast, a major league statistical analysis system, Kelnick’s home run hitting speed was 111.7 miles per hour (about 180 km) and the distance was 482 feet (about 147 m). 

This was the “longest home run” hit by a Seattle batter since the introduction of Statcast in 2015. The previous record was held by Mike Zunino (more than 470 feet) in 2017 and 2018. 

It also remains the second longest home run since 2015 at Wrigley Field, after Wilson Contreres’ 149.6m home run in 2017. Among homers hit this season, Giancarlo Stanton (485 feet) was the player who hit the ball the farthest, second in distance.

According to MLB.com, the official website of the Major League Baseball, Kelnick said after the game, “I think I flew the farthest home run I ever hit. I swung the bat without much effort, but it felt soft. It was the swing I wanted.” Explained.

Kelnick, who wore a New York Mets uniform with the 6th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2018 rookie draft, has fallen far short of expectations. He showed a disappointing performance even after moving to Seattle through a trade in early December 2018. He made his big league debut in 2021 and batted just 10% for the second year in a row.

It feels different from the start this year. Kelnick, who has improved his sense of hitting since the spring camp demonstration game, has been hitting 7 consecutive games since the match against the Los Angeles Angels on the 6th. In the 3 consecutive games against the Cubs on the 11th and 13th, everyone tasted it.

Kelnick, who has to get rid of the ‘prospect’ tag, is off to a good start this year.