CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians hitter Bradley Zimmer hit the club’s longest home run since MLB began using StatCast in 2015 to track the distance of homers.
Zimmer hit a 471-foot blast during the seventh inning of Monday night’s 9-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Reds reliever Justin Wilson gave up the homer on an 89-mph cutter.
With the Indians’ victory, Cleveland retained the Ohio Cup by tying the season series at 3-3. The Reds have not won the Ohio Cup since 2014.
Zimmer’s home run cleared the trees beyond the centerfield wall at Progressive Field. His homer was the longest since Edwin Encarnacion hit a ball 466 feet on June 20, 2017. Zimmer’s home run was also the 10th longest in MLB so far this season.
“I was told the only other person to hit a ball out there is Jim Thome,” Zimmer said after the game. “I figured I am in pretty good company on that one.”
After battling injuries, which cost him the first two months of the 2021 season, he has swung one of the Indians’ hottest bats. Zimmer has hit .300 since July 8, which leads the club during that span.
“Consistency of playing and playing through a long season and not just spurts; it’s fun to be back out there and play like my 100th game of the year and consistently be on the field,” he said. “
Acting Indians manager DeMarlo Hale noted Zimmer’s improved play in recent weeks.
“He stayed in there and had a good swing path on it,” Hale said. “Those are some of the things he can do. We talked about his skill set and versatility on both sides of the ball. We’re seeing that come out more and more.”
