Rangers Rookie Nomar Mazara Hits 491-Foot HR, Longest In MLB This Season

by Pablo MenaMay 26, 2016, 11:40 pmNews >

The Texas Rangers have been missing starting right fielder Shin-Soo Choo for most of the season because of a hamstring injury, but this hasn’t caused much of a problem for them thus far. The main reason: rookie Nomar Mazara has proven to be nothing short of fantastic in his place.

Rangers Rookie Nomar Mazara Hits 491-Foot HR, Longest In MLB This Season

Mazara is hitting .322 with eight home runs in his first 163 career plate appearances. Now, he has another feat to boast about.

In the Rangers’ 15-9 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, the 21-year-old Dominican blasted a 491-foot home run to the upper deck in right field, as it left the bat at 108 mph.

The homer, which came in the bottom of the second off Angels starter Hector Santiago as the Rangers trailed 4-1, is now the longest in the MLB this season. It was 16 feet longer than Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton’s on May 6, which was previously the longest this season.

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“It’s cool to hear that. I hope more is to come,” Mazara said. “I put a good swing on it,” the rookie also later added.

It was also the third-longest in the Statcast era.

Mazara hit his first career home run at Globe Life Park just one day earlier, in the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Angels on Tuesday– his 38th game. His record homer on Wednesday was his second.

“It was a majestic home run, I’m happy for the kid,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.

Mazara now leads the Rangers with eight homers, and trails only Minnesota Twins designated hitter Byung Ho Park (nine) for the most by an American League rookie.

If he continues hitting baseballs like that, Mazara could surely soon become a strong candidate to win AL Rookie of the Year.

TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 4: Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers hits a single in the first inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 4, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)