Can Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura reach rare, historic numbers in 2013?
Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a sports statistics blog published with a focus on stats that go beyond the numbers.
Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura are enjoying breakout seasons with the Brewers. But is it possible that one (or both) of these players could reach numbers that have only been seen a handful of times in baseball history?
Gomez and Segura are currently tied for the National League (and MLB) lead in triples with eight. Both are already in double-figures with home runs, Gomez with 12, Segura with 10. Is it possible that one (or both of them) will end the season with 20-plus triples and 20-plus home runs?
As it stands right now, both players are on a pace to reach 19 triples for the season. Gomez is on a 29-homer pace for the year, while Segura is on a pace to hit 24 four-baggers. Looking back in baseball history, there have only been seven players since the beginning of the national pastime who have hit 20 or more home runs and 20 or more triples in the same season. The last to do so? Curtis Granderson (Detroit) and Jimmy Rollins (Phillies) both accomplished this rare feat in 2007.
Here’s a look at the seven players who had 20-plus HRs and 20-plus triples in a season.
Year: Player (team), triples/HRs
2007: Curtis Granderson (Detroit) 23/23
2007: Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia) 20/30
1979: George Brett (Kansas City) 20/23
1957: Willie Mays (N.Y. Giants) 20/35
1941: Jeff Heath (Cleveland) 20/24
1928: Jim Bottomley (St/ Louis) 20/31
1911: Frank Schulte (Chicago Cubs) 21/21
Getting back to Gomez and Segura, there is not much history for these players to indicate whether or not the possibility of being a 20-20 (triple-HR) player will become a reality. Gomez has already reached his career-high in triples with eight; his career-high in home runs was last year when he hit 19. For Segura, this is his first full season in the majors after 45 games in the bigs last year.
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