On Friday night (22 July 2011) Washington Nationals Pitcher John Lannan helped out his own cause by hitting a 2 run home run which also happened to be the 1st of his career in a 7-2 Washington Nationals win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lannan for example is currently a .101 lifetime hitter and was 0-32 before getting 4 hits in his last 2 games. John Lannan’s home run got me thinking of other pitchers who you really wouldn’t really expect to have hit a home run but have during their career.
Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Cliff Lee notched his first career home run back on July 9th but it wasn’t enough as the Phillies would lose that game 4-1 to the Atlanta Braves in 11 innings. Lee’s Phillies teammate Roy Oswalt got his first and only home run back in 2006 when he was a member of the Houston Astros.
Detroit Tigers Pitcher Brad Penny has 3 career home runs which included a grand slam when he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2010.
New York Yankees Pitcher CC Sabathia has hit 3 career home runs. 2 when he was on the Cleveland Indians, and 1 during his time on the Milwaukee Brewers. Sabathia isn't the only New York Yankees pitcher to hit a home run during his career, as New York Yankees Pitcher A.J. Burnett had 3 home runs during his time with the Florida Marlins.
Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox who pitched a no hitter in 2007 against the Texas Rangers, and pitched a perfect game in 2009 against the Tampa Bay Rays hit his 1 and only home run during interleague play in 2009 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Zack Greinke who won the American League Cy Young Award back in 2009 as a member of the Kansas City Royals has 2 career home runs including 1 this season versus the Washington Nationals.
Former Notre Dame Wide Receiver Jeff Samardzija who would have been a 1st round NFL draft pick in 2007 but instead elected to sign with the Chicago Cubs which gave him a 5 year $16.5 million deal. Samardzija is now a relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, and he hit his 1 and only home run back in 2009.
Not all pitchers are horrible hitters which is the case with Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs. Zambrano has hit 22 home runs during his career. Zambrano’s Chicago Cubs teammate Kerry Wood has hit 7 home runs during his career. Bronson Arroyo of the Cincinnati Reds has 5 home runs, and so does injured St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright with 5.
As for the Washington Nationals, Livan Hernandez has 10 career home runs including one last year for the Nationals. Jason Marquis of the Nationals has hit 5 career home runs, and former Pitcher and current Washington Nationals CF Rick Ankiel currently has 58 home runs in his career including 3 so far on the season.
