Yankees 2016 Season Review: The five longest home runs

Wrapping up Pinstripe Alley’s Yankees 2016 Season Review, we’re going to be taking a look at the five longest home runs of the season. Unfortunately, the season didn’t end the way Yankees fans would have wanted, but at least there were some exciting dingers to lead us through a tough season.

What’s awesome is that a lot of these home runs were hit in spots that helped the Yankees win, either via walk-off, an early lead, or even just insurance runs. When the Yankees needed some runs, these players went up to the plate and crushed the ball to help their team out. So let’s take a look at the five home runs that traveled the furthest for the Yankees in 2016.

5. Starlin Castro - 06/22/16

Distance: 443.23 ft. | Against: Jason Motte, Rockies

PSA Recap | Box Score

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This game was one of those that can easily be described as a “roller coaster” ride. Thanks to a Chase Headley grand slam in the second inning, the Yankees broke out to an early 4-0 lead, but CC Sabathia had his first rocky start of the season allowing six runs in 4.1 innings of work. After that the Yankee bats went quiet until a Carlos Beltran three-run home run in the seventh. Starlin Castro go on to hit his first career walk-off and become the hero of the game. This also happened right in the thick of the disappointing first half of the season, back when the Bondurant Speed Principle still applied.

4. Mark Teixeira - 07/03/16

Distance: 444.12 ft. | Against: Kevin Quackenbush, Padres

PSA Recap | Box Score

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After hitting his 400th career home run earlier in the game, Mark Teixeira hit this monster shot for home run number 401. There are a few noteworthy things about this game, but it can be remembered as Chad Green’s second career start. After getting absolutely pummeled by the Diamondbacks in his first game (over a month before this one), Green came back ready to prove he was worthy of a rotation spot. He did just that, throwing six innings of one-run ball.

3. Aaron Hicks - 05/06/16

Distance: 446.23 ft. | Against: Rick Porcello, Red Sox

PSA Recap | Box Score

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Sure Hicks was the hero of this game for breaking the tie with the go-ahead home run, but everything in this game is overshadowed by former (that felt so nice to type out) Red Sox designated whiner hitter throwing a temper tantrum about the strike zone.

2. Aaron Judge - 08/13/16

Distance: 446.46 ft. | Against: Matt Andriese, Rays

PSA Recap | Box Score

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Welcome to New York, Aaron Judge! Moments after Tyler Austin introduced himself to the Bronx and Yankees fans, Judge decided he needed to get in on the action and launched a towering home run off the restaurant in center field to give fans a glimpse of his potential. Unfortunately, Judge ended up struggling in the games that followed this shot, but there’s reason to believe he will figure things out. Hopefully this was the first of many booming shots from Judge.

1. Brian McCann - 06/19/16

Distance: 449.83 ft. | Against: Brandon Kintzler, Twins

PSA Recap | Box Score

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Unfortunately, the longest home run of the year was the least exciting of the five. It’s the only one of the group that came in a loss, and at it was kind of a blowout. Down 7-3 against the Twins (how?), Brian McCann launched a solo shot to bring the Yankees within three. As unexciting as the game was, the home run was still impressive because it actually left Target Field. #DALE.

Rookie of the Year finalist Gary Sanchez somehow didn’t make the cut for the longest home runs of the season, however, that doesn’t mean his 20 home runs aren’t worth mentioning. If you feel like watching him hit some dingers, you can watch them all here:

*Statistics courtesy of Baseball Savant