MEXICO CITY — Xander Bogaerts grew up in Aruba, is fluent in 4 languages and has starred for Team Netherlands on the World Baseball Classic.
Fitting, maybe, that such a cosmopolitan ballplayer would make worldwide baseball historical past on Saturday night in Mexico City.
With his fourth-inning dwelling run off Giants right-hander Jakob Junis, Bogaerts grew to become the primary participant in baseball historical past to homer in 4 totally different international locations — USA, Canada, England and now Mexico.
“It’s incredible, to be honest with you,” Bogaerts mentioned after the Padres had overwhelmed the Giants in a 16-11 slugfest at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. “It’s something I never thought of. … It’s a pretty neat accomplishment.”
This weekend, the Padres and Giants are staging the primary regular-season video games performed in Mexico City (the place the altitude of over 7,300 toes was on full show with the 2 groups combining for 11 dwelling runs — two shy of the Major League document).
The majority of Bogaerts’ 162 profession dwelling runs, after all, have come within the United States, with a handful at Rogers Centre in Canada. Bogaerts additionally went deep for the Red Sox throughout MLB’s London Series in 2019.
“I guess I play good in [international games],” Bogaerts mentioned. “Hopefully, that continues. Tonight was a really special night for our whole team. Let’s see if we can keep that going.”
Bogaerts’ feat comes with a little bit of a caveat, nevertheless, as Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. Both Tony Clark and Michael Brantley have homered in three international locations, in addition to Puerto Rico.
Bogaerts is off to a red-hot begin to his Padres tenure, with a slash line of .311/.405/.524 this season. His homer on Saturday was his team-leading sixth of the season, coming instantly after Juan Soto had tied Bogaerts together with his fifth dwelling run.
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