Madison Bumgarner has already solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in major league baseball. His post season record and statistics speak for themselves and he’s easily one of if not the best “big game” pitches in the league. However, it’s getting pretty hard to ignore his prowess at the plate. In what was easily the highlight of the first day back for Major League Baseball, Bumgarner became the first pitcher in MLB history to hit 2 home runs in the same game on opening day. Also he became the only other player in history to smash 2 home runs with a 112 mph exit velocity. Who else has done this? Giancarlo Stanton.
Each of Bumgarner’s home runs had an exit velocity of at least 112 mph. According to Statcast, Stanton is the only other player to hit two home runs at 112 mph exit velocity in a game during the Statcast era. He now gets to share that designation with a pitcher. It might be funny to make jokes that Bumgarner leads the league in home runs on the first day of the season, but the guy just hit a pair of baseballs with the ferocity of the league’s best power hitter. The first one could have just been a good swing, a flash of luck. But he did it twice.
Fantasy owners were obviously really annoyed because Bumgarner didn’t get the win. He pitched 7 strong allowing 3 earned runs and struck out 11. But the real rub is that in most fantasy leagues his 2 home runs did nothing since of offensive stats don’t count. Here’s a look at his two bombs:
It took Bumgarner 4 innings to go yard. 15th of his career. pic.twitter.com/fcmDGL73FP
— A Foot In The Box (@afootinthebox) April 2, 2017
Madison Bumgarner again. CRUSHES his second home run of the game. pic.twitter.com/i2sR8IMaqK
— Matt Johnson (@MattJ_Sports) April 2, 2017
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