Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, has a reputation as a pitcher-friendly ballpark, but it’s still played host to some impressive home runs over the years.
In this list, we’re counting down the 10 longest home runs at Tropicana Field through the 2022 season. It’s important to note that these home runs are only from 2015 onward, when MLB’s Statcast began to officially track the distance of each MLB home run. This list includes a pair of entries from a Rays catcher, one of baseball’s all-time home run* hitters and some sluggers who appear on top-10 lists at several major league parks. (All videos appear courtesy of MLB.)
Here’s a look at the 10 longest home runs at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
10. Avisaíl García — 459 feet
Over the course of his career, Avisaíl García has developed a well-earned reputation for hitting monstrous home runs. Not only does he have one of the 10 longest home runs at Tropicana Field, but he’s also earned a top-10 spot at several other parks around the big leagues, including Rogers Centre, Guaranteed Rate Field and Comerica Park. García’s longest home run at Tropicana Field came on July 20, 2019, when he cracked a changeup from Lucas Giolito 459 feet with an exit velocity of 111.2 mph. In what almost seems impossible, the baseball hit the Rays 2008 American League East Championship banner that hangs high above the seats in left-center field.
9. Ji-Man Choi — 460 feet
Ji-Man Choi hit eight home runs for Tampa Bay in 2018, but it’s his third of the season that is most memorable. Choi blasted a fastball from Kyle Barraclough 460 feet to straightaway center field. The baseball, which left the infielder’s bat at 109.4 mph, landed above the batter’s eye.
8. Gary Sanchez — 461 feet
Much like Avisaíl García, catcher Gary Sanchez has left his mark around the majors with lengthy home runs at several parks — including Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and Comerica Park. He’s on the list at the Trop thanks to a three-run home run on July 4, 2019. Garcia sent a cutter from Emilio Pagán into the upper deck in left field, 461 feet from home plate. The home run, Sanchez’s 24th of the season, had an exit velocity of 113.7 mph.
7. Willy Adames — 462 feet
When shortstop Willy Adames connected with a slider from Josh Taylor during a game on September 21, 2019, he not only earned himself a spot on Tropicana Field’s top-10 list — he also hit the longest homer of his career. Adames’s 462-foot bomb hit the “D-Ring” catwalk in center field before bouncing off the batter’s eye. The home run was Adames’s 19th of the season and had an exit velocity of 108.3 mph.
6. Teoscar Hernández — 464 feet
Through 2021, the longest home run of Teoscar Hernández’s career measured 464 feet. He tied that distance in 2022 at Tropicana Field, thanks to a towering shot off Garrett Cleavinger on August 25. Hernández smoked a fastball in the center of the strike zone with an exit velocity of 113.2 mph, sending the ball 464 feet to the facing of the upper deck in left-center field.
5. Mike Zunino — 466 feet
Catcher Mike Zunino had a career year in 2021, earning his first All-Star Game roster spot and finishing 20th in American League MVP voting. He also knocked 33 home runs, including a 466-foot blast against Oakland’s Cole Irvin at the Trop on April 28. The baseball caromed off one of the catwalks above center field, deflecting back onto the playing surface. The home run was Zunino’s fifth of the season and had an exit velocity of 112.8 mph.
4. Marcell Ozuna — 468 feet
Marcell Ozuna hit his longest home run of 2017 on May 3 at Tropicana Field, blasting a changeup from Blake Snell 468 feet off the Rays 2011 American League Wild Card banner above the upper deck in left-center field. The home run had an exit velocity of 112.2 mph and Ozuna’s his eighth home run of a 37-home run season.
3. Nelson Cruz — 469 feet
Nelson Cruz has hit tape measure home runs throughout his career, with highlight blasts at many parks around baseball. His longest at the Trop came on August 18, 2017, during an at-bat against Brad Boxberger. Cruz drilled a fastball 469 feet into the upper deck for his 30th home run of the season. The long ball had an impressive exit velocity of 116 mph.
2. Alex Rodriguez — 471 feet
Former Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez earns second place on the Tropicana Field list, thanks to a memorable blast on April 17, 2015. During a second inning at-bat, A-Rod connected with a pitch from Nate Karns and drove the ball 471 feet to the party deck in left-center field. The home run had an exit velocity of 107.3 mph and was Rodriguez’s third of the year.
1. Mike Zunino — 472 feet
The longest home run at Tropicana Field in the Statcast era belongs to catcher Mike Zunino, who hit the record-breaking shot against New York’s Jordan Montgomery on May 11, 2021. Montgomery threw a 3-2 slider to Zunino, and the catcher crushed the baseball with an exit velocity of 111 mph, sending it 472 feet to the standing room area high above the center field fence.
The 10 Longest Home Runs at Tropicana Field are:
1. Mike Zunino — 472 feet
2. Alex Rodriguez — 471 feet
3. Nelson Cruz — 469 feet
4. Marcell Ozuna — 468 feet
5. Mike Zunino — 466 feet
6. Teoscar Hernández — 464 feet
7. Willy Adames — 462 feet
8. Gary Sanchez — 461 feet
9. Ji-Man Choi — 460 feet
10. Avisaíl García — 459 feet