Mind-boggling stats show Madison Bumgarner is unworldly at the plate
San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner has been nothing short of dominant this season, having won seven of his 12 starts for a record of 7-2. A minuscule ERA of 1.91 and 94 strikeouts certainly help, but so does his power at the plate.
In Thursday's 6-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, Bumgarner helped his own cause by launching a 411-foot home run to left field for his second dinger of the season. He's now one of two pitchers with multiple homers in 2016, joining Noah Syndergaard in the limited group. By comparison, only two Braves have move long balls than Syndergaard or Bumgarner.
What's more even more impressive than that statistic is this one: He now has as many home runs (11) in his last 190 plate appearances as Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. Sure, both sluggers have been slumping of late, but that's staggering on every level.
Yes, it’s true.
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) June 2, 2016
We can’t believe it either. (h/t @theaceofspaeder) pic.twitter.com/0twG75CDiE
The home run was the 13th of Bumgarner's young career, and it was one that moved him to the top of an impressive list. Bumgarner's 13 homers rank first among active pitchers in MLB, breaking a tie with Yovani Gallardo, who has 12. Travis Wood (nine) and Adam Wainwright (seven) are next on the list.
Additionally, the man they call MadBum has the third-most home runs by a pitcher since 1969, trailing only Carlos Zambrano (24) and Mike Leake (16). He also struck out 10 batters Thursday, making it the third time he's recorded 10 Ks and a home run in the same game -- second in the divisional era.
Madison Bumgarner's 3 career games with a HR and 10 K are 2nd-most of any pitcher in divisional era (Steve Carlton - 5), via @EliasSports
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 2, 2016
Not only is Bumgarner getting it done on the mound, but he's a threat to go deep every time he steps to the dish. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, that's not much of a surprise, but few pitchers in history have swung the bat as well as him.
