These 8 swings somehow produced home runs in 2019

The 2019 season saw more home runs hit than ever before, 11 percent more than any other season in major league history. With a year so prolific for long balls, there were definitely a few that were shocking.

“it’s just really interesting how many balls are going out and how easily they’re going out,” Orioles reliever Mychal Givens told the Washington Post in April.

If only Givens knew some of the swings that would produce home runs later in the season. Here are eight swings that somehow, some way ended up in a homer in 2019, presented in no particular order.

Hansel Robles thought so little of this drive, he immediately pointed to the sky, indicating a catchable pop fly. Nope.

Continuing the trend of “Oh darn, I popped out. WAIT, THAT’S A HOME RUN.”

This home run was pulled to left field.

It’s easier to Royals franchise record for home runs when an off-balance swing like this can lead to a pulled home run.

We go to Houston, where the Blue Jays infielder went down and got this low pitch, and somehow sent this out to right field. The expected slugging percentage on this batted ball, per Statcast, was .107. That’s the expected slugging percentage.

Down goes Frazier! To one knee to hit this go-ahead home run in the eighth inning.

“It looked like a routine fly to the gap,” Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen said. “I guess we should get used to this.”

He thought he popped out, and threw his bat in disgust. But nope, it was another home run for Frazier.

We have a late entry! Another late example of a hitter utterly frustrated with what he thought was a fly out, but Joc Pederson soon learned that this ball went over the left field wall at Petco Park. A true 2019 special.