With the commencement of the 2024 MLB regular season, anticipation builds for an array of spectacular home runs that could soon etch their names into the annals of baseball history.
Veteran Pittsburgh Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen stands on the cusp of his 300th career home run, a milestone he could potentially achieve as early as Opening Day on March 28. Likewise, New York Yankees’ stalwart Anthony Rizzo, with 295 career homers over 13 MLB seasons, is poised to join the elite 300 home run club.
Barring any unforeseen setbacks, these seasoned players are expected to become the 160th and 161st members of the esteemed 300-home run club this spring.
McCutchen amassed the majority of his impressive home run tally during his tenure with the Pirates, although he added to it during stints with the Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers. The 37-year-old former NL MVP has maintained an average of 20 home runs per year throughout his career, notching 12 in 2023 across 112 games.
Rizzo’s journey began modestly with just one home run as a rookie for the San Diego Padres in 2011, following a trade from the Boston Red Sox for All-Star Adrian Gonzalez. However, his career took flight after joining the Chicago Cubs, where he ascended to All-Star status. Now at 34 years old, Rizzo boasts an average of 23 homers per year. Despite a concussion affecting his performance, he managed 32 homers in 2022 but only 12 in 2023.
Among other active players, Houston Astros’ José Abreu sits at 261 home runs, with a recent dip in his home run production over the last two seasons. Rizzo’s teammate, Aaron Judge, is further away, needing 43 homers to reach the 300 mark. While Judge has impressive seasons of 50 and 60 home runs, he has not consistently hit over 40 in his eight seasons with the Yankees.
Los Angeles Dodgers standout Mookie Betts is 48 homers shy of 300, having achieved a career-high of 39 in 2023.
