After Alex Rodriguez went deep last week and became just the seventh player in Major League history to accumulate 600 or more home runs, I had to ask…who will be the next player to do it?
Future Hall of Famers Jim Thome (579 career bombs) and Manny Ramirez (554) are both within shouting distance of the milestone…but at 39 and 38 years old respectively, their best years are behind them.
While it would be hard to root against Thome because he’s 21 long balls away from 600…does he have enough in the tank to do it? He’s hit just 15 this year and I’m not so sure he’ll continue to get the at bats next season.
Ramirez, on the other hand…well, he looks to be close to done.
At just 30 years old, Washington’s Adam Dunn (347) has done nothing but crush the ball since he entered the league. In each of his last nine seasons, Dunn has hit at least 25 or more home runs. From 2004-2008, he became just the second player to hit 40 or more home runs in five straight seasons.
The other? George Herman Ruth…who did it in seven straight years. And with 31 so far this season, Dunn looks to have 40 back on his radar after stalling out at 38 last year.
Second generation superstar Prince Fielder has the most home runs of anyone under the age of 30. With 185 home runs at the age of 26, the Milwaukee Brewers first baseman is making a name for himself as one of the National League’s premier power hitters.
Not surprisingly, Albert Pujols seems to be the odds on favorite to be the next guy to do everything. Friday night, the 30 year-old hit career homer number 394 and barring sudden injury, will become the second youngest player to reach 400.
Here’s how the vote panned out.
41% – Albert Pujols
40% – Jim Thome
6% – No one
5% – Prince Fielder
4% – Manny Ramirez
2% – Adam Dunn
So what do you think? Who has the edge…who did I miss? More importantly…will we see anyone get to 600 again?!?
Curious about A-Rod and his march to the milestone? Here are ten things you might not have known about his 600 home runs.
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