STATS Amazin’: Chicks Dig the Long Ball – And Let’s Be Honest, So Do Guys

They say “chicks dig the long ball.” So when Juan Soto—who combines the eye of Ted Williams, the smile of Griffey, and the power of Reggie—launched not one but two bombs into the Queens night on June 25, it wasn’t just another big night. It was a record-setting, history-book-editing, kind of night. And let’s be honest—after that second one cleared the fence, somewhere in the ballpark, a fan turned to their date and said, “Told you he was worth the price of admission.” Because yes—chicks dig the long ball, and right now, they absolutely love Juan Soto.

Juan Soto Makes History Before 27

With those two homers against the Braves (which, let’s be honest, makes it even sweeter), Juan Soto notched his 27th multi-homer game before the age of 27—more than any player in Major League history. That’s more than:

Jimmie Foxx (26), who looked like he hit home runs between bites of roast beef and posted a career HR/AB ratio of 15.2—which, in his day, was practically science fiction.

Mel Ott and Eddie Mathews (25 apiece), both Hall of Fame icons with swings smoother than Sinatra’s voice. Ott went deep once every 18.5 AB, and Mathews clocked in at a homer every 16.7 AB—and that includes a lot of dead-ball era tailwind.

Alex Rodriguez (25), whose bat speed was matched only by his ability to trigger a good barstool argument. He went yard every 15.18 AB, while navigating three decades, two hip surgeries, and enough drama to fill an entire YES Network off-season.

And now Soto—still just 26 and not turning 27 until October—sits atop them all. His career HR/AB ratio is 16.2, already in the conversation with the all-time greats, and climbing.

All Hall of Famers. Soto is not just in elite company—he’s moving the velvet rope and letting himself in early.

Let’s just call it what it is: he’s not just chasing milestones, he’s joining a club most hitters only dream about. Chicks dig the long ball? Yeah, and in 2025, they absolutely love Juan Soto.

This got me thinking: Who’s matched that kind of power for the Mets? Not just total home runs in a season, but frequency, how often did the ball leave the park compared to how often the player stepped in the box?

The Most Prolific Home Run Seasons in Mets History – AB/HR Style

Here’s where it gets fun. I crunched the numbers and found the best Mets home run seasons not by sheer total, but by at-bats per home run. Because when a guy’s leaving the yard every dozen at-bats or so, you don’t risk standing in line at Shake Shack so you stay glued to your seat and hope the next pitch ends up in the third deck.

1. Pete Alonso – 2019

53 HR in 597 AB – 11.3 AB/HR

The rookie record. The Polar Bear came to the big leagues like Thor with a bat instead of a hammer. He didn’t just introduce himself—he snapped pitchers out of existence one home run at a time.

2. Pete Alonso – 2023

46 HR in 568 AB – 12.3 AB/HR

Different season, same bear. While the league tried adjusting to him, he just kept launching. The man could hit a fastball in a blackout.

3. Carlos Beltrán – 2006

41 HR in 510 AB – 12.4 AB/HR

In 2006, Beltrán did everything short of selling peanuts—41 homers, acrobatic catches, and nightly reminders that the Mets were for real. Then October happened. And Wainwright’s curveball dropped like a guillotine. Mention “strike three” to any Mets fan over 30, and you’ll trigger a thousand-yard stare and a faint whisper: “He didn’t swing…”

4. Mike Piazza – 2000

38 HR in 482 AB – 12.7 AB/HR

In 2000, Mike Piazza didn’t just hit home runs—he hit moments. Clutch, defiant, and cinematic. He dragged the Mets to the Bronx like a man on a mission, and for one magical run, made them the center of New York’s baseball universe.

5. Dave Kingman – 1976

37 HR in 474 AB – 12.8 AB/HR

Kingman didn’t just hit home runs—he launched NASA projects. His homers left Shea like they were mad at the ballpark. When he connected, people looked up three neighborhoods over.

6. Todd Hundley – 1996

41 HR in 540 AB – 13.2 AB/HR

Hundley was a pioneer. Before Piazza arrived, he showed that Mets catchers could mash too. A switch-hitting backstop putting up 40+? That’ll raise some eyebrows—and expectations.

7. Mike Piazza – 1999

40 HR in 534 AB – 13.4 AB/HR

Another masterpiece from Mikey. That swing? A thunderclap. And few players thrived in pressure like he did.

8. Darryl Strawberry – 1987

39 HR in 532 AB – 13.6 AB/HR

Straw in his prime was box office. He could change a game with one flick of his bat—and his bat rarely stayed quiet for long.

9. Carlos Delgado – 2006

38 HR in 524 AB – 13.8 AB/HR

Delgado and Beltrán were a dynamic duo in ’06. Carlos had one of the smoothest power strokes you’ll ever see. If you blinked, you missed it.

10. Darryl Strawberry – 1988

39 HR in 543 AB – 13.9 AB/HR

The Straw’s encore. Same elegance, same explosion. One of the most naturally gifted players to ever wear the orange and blue.

2025: Who’s Hitting the Long Ball This Season?

Let’s bring it to today. With Soto now a certified Mets milestone-maker, and Pete still anchoring the order, here’s a breakdown of the 2025 Mets’ home run production by frequency (minimum 1 home run):

Jared Young – 3 HR in 41 AB (13.67 AB/HR)

Jared Young? Yep, that Jared Young. The swing looks legit, the power’s flashed... but let’s not start stitching his name on the back of a jersey just yet. With Mark Vientos coming back, someone’s getting squeezed—and depending how the coin flips, that someone could be Jared or Ronny Mauricio. Welcome to the Mets’ game of musical chairs, roster edition.

Juan Soto – 19 HR in 285 AB (15.00 AB/HR)

History-making, MVP-chasing, and Citi Field’s favorite new son. Soto brings balance, power, swagger—and oh yeah, he's still just 26.

Pete Alonso – 18 HR in 304 AB (16.89 AB/HR)

The face of Mets power. He’s not quite at 2019 levels, but the Polar Bear’s heating up—and the ball still jumps when he barrels it.

Brandon Nimmo – 15 HR in 287 AB (19.13 AB/HR)

Not just a leadoff guy anymore. Nimmo’s power surge has been a quiet storm—and pitchers are starting to notice.

Jeff McNeil – 8 HR in 154 AB (19.25 AB/HR)

The Squirrel’s got pop. And with fewer shifts, he’s pulling more than just grounders.

Ronny Mauricio – 3 HR in 58 AB (19.33 AB/HR)

Young, raw, and full of upside. Mauricio’s homers have that “you’ll remember where you were” vibe.

Francisco Lindor – 16 HR in 317 AB (19.81 AB/HR)

Quietly putting together another 25-30 HR season pace, while still making plays at short that defy logic.

Brett Baty – 8 HR in 179 AB (22.38 AB/HR)

Still settling in, but he’s got the stroke. He’s one adjustment away from a serious breakout.

Mark Vientos – 6 HR in 187 AB (31.17 AB/HR)

The power is still there—you don’t hit tape-measure shots like Vientos without it—but so far in 2025, it’s been buried under inconsistency. His current pace of one homer every 31.17 at-bats is a far cry from 2024, when he launched 27 home runs in just 413 plate appearances, good for a home run every 15.29 ABs. That’s the version the Mets are hoping to see again as he returns from a hamstring injury today. If he starts trending back toward that 2024 form, look for the Mets to go on a run.

The Others:

Starling Marte (4 HR in 144 AB), Francisco Álvarez (3 HR in 123 AB), Jesse Winker (1 HR in 67 AB), Tyrone Taylor (2 HR in 211 AB), Luis Torrens (1 HR in 133 AB)

Let’s just say… the long ball hasn’t been the calling card for this group. Jesse Winker has dealt with injuries that have limited his rhythm and reps—there’s still hope his bat wakes up as his health improves. Francisco Álvarez was sent down to try to reconnect with the power stroke that turned heads during his rookie campaign. As for Marte, Taylor, and Torrens—while the homers haven’t come in bunches, they’ve chipped in with defense, situational hitting, and, in n Marte’s case, the occasional burst of speed, constant professional at-bats, and a steady presence in the clubhouse and dugout. Not every roster spot needs a slugger... but it wouldn’t hurt.

Final Thoughts

It’s a long season, and the ball still has a lot of flying to do. But if this first half is any indication, Mets fans will have plenty of reasons to look skyward—and yell “See ya!”

Whether it’s Soto adding chapters to his legend, Alonso reminding us why he’s one of the game’s great power hitters, or guys like Jared Young coming out of nowhere with some thunder of their own—this team’s got pop.

So, Mets fans—who’s your all-time favorite home run hitter, the one whose every at-bat you’d never dare miss? The guy who made you stop snacking, pause the game on DVR—maybe even hear Ralph’s voice from KinersKorner in your head as he broke down that swing with all the reverence it deserved—or forget you were supposed to be paying attention at work? Drop their name in the comments below—bonus points if you’ve got a story about that one swing that still gives you goosebumps.