Adrian Gonzalez becomes 4th Padre with 40 HR season

Sunday September 27, 2009

With a 2 run blast to Right Center off Diamondbacks starter Billy Buckner in the 4th inning, Adrian Gonzalez became the 4th San Diego Padre to hit 40 home runs in a season.

Gonzalez joins a list that includes Greg Vaughn (50 in 1998), Phil Nevin (41 in 2001) and Ken Caminiti (40 in 1996).

Considering the difficulty hitting for power in Petco Park, this may rank as one of the more impressive (and improbable) 40 home run seasons I have ever seen.

How hard is it to hit a home run in Petco? 27.4% less home runs have been hit there than in a league average ballpark and more than 50% less than places like Coors Field, the new Yankee Stadium, and Cincinnati's bandbox. For left handed hitters it is closer to 40% less home runs hit in Petco. Gonzalez is a left handed hitter.

Congratulations Adrian! I have really enjoyed watching you play baseball and I hope I get to watch you play in a Padres uniform for many years to come.