The 2019 Braves have hit the most home runs in franchise history.
Adeiny Hechavarria, of all people, launched a pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s loss to Philadelphia. It was the team’s 236th shot, setting a franchise record.
“The power has legitimized us this year,” manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s put us with some of the better clubs in the league. I know the record we broke (from the 2003 season), I was over here at the end of the year with that team, and that was one of the better teams we’ve ever had. It’s the era we’re in now. It’s helped us with a lot of the success we’ve had this year.”
These Braves could be the second in team history to have three players hit 40 or more. Ronald Acuna (39), Freddie Freeman (38) and Josh Donaldson (37) are on the cusp. Their homers have played a large part in the Braves’ 810 runs, currently the fifth most in their history.
“The long ball has been part of our game this year,” Donaldson said. “But this offense has more than one area we can score runs in. Obviously hitting home runs is great. We never feel like we’re out of a game because we have that capability. But to be able to manufacture runs like we do is important.”
Snitker, a Double-A manager in 2003, joined the that team for its stretch run. He remembers that club fondly: It won 101 games and arguably was the Braves’ best team at the plate. It, too, came close to three players with 40 homers: Javy Lopez hit 43, while Gary Sheffield (39) and Andruw Jones (36) finished within striking distance.
These Braves will need to maintain their showing in October to win their first postseason series since 2001. The 2003 team was eliminated in the National League Division Series by the Cubs.
