Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic blasts nearly 500-foot home run at Wrigley Field

Jarred Kelenic on Wednesday did his best impression of Sammy Sosa at Wrigley Field.

The Seattle Mariners left fielder obliterated a fastball down the middle from Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Julian Merryweather for a solo home run in the eighth inning to put Seattle up 5-1.

This one went to the second level of the bleachers in dead center field.

Jarred Kelenic just hit one where very few have before. 😳 pic.twitter.com/dtd9h3KNot

— MLB (@MLB) April 12, 2023

That was crushed.

The home run had a 31-degree launch angle with a 111.7 mph exit velocity. Its projected distance was 482 feet.

Jarred Kelenic vs Julian Merryweather#SeaUsRise

Home Run (3) 💣

Exit velo: 111.7 mph
Launch angle: 31 deg
Proj. distance: 482 ft

No doubt about that one 🔒
That's a dinger in all 30 MLB ballparks

SEA (5) @ CHC (1)
🔺 8th pic.twitter.com/IFRgq4m3dn

— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) April 12, 2023

That home run by Kelenic is the longest recorded home run of the Statcast Era, which goes back to 2015.

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1646251427327533063

Not too many players have put a ball into the second deck of the outfield bleachers in center at Wrigley.

Kelenic went back-to-back with Teoscar Hernandez on that home run. The 23-year-old has now homered in three straight games.