Carlos Santana and Mike Napoli are Leading the Power Surge

Sep 8, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) hits a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) hits a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Indians now have two hitters at the 30 home run mark after Carlos Santana hit his 30th of the season Thursday afternoon.

Carlos Santana likes hitting balls hard and far, as evidenced by his home run against the Houston Astros on Thursday. That home run was more than just the typical ‘Los bomb, as it was Santana’s 30th home run of the year, which marks the first time in his seven-year career that he has reached the 30 home run plateau.

The last time that the Cleveland Indians had a player on their team who hit 30 home runs was in 2008, when Grady Sizemore hit 32. The best part about this year’s Indians team? Santana isn’t the only hitter with 30 jacks this year (Hint: The second culprit likes to party.)

It’s hard to believe that this is the first time that Carlos Santana has joined the 30 home run club. Santana made his MLB debut late in the 2010 season, and has been a staple in the Indians lineup ever since, as he led the Indians in home runs in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.   His previous career high in dingers was 27, a mark that he set in 2011 and 2014. MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian wrote earlier in the year about how Santana changed up his swing this year, and he has been reaping the benefits of it this year in the power department.

Santana also has a serious shot at setting a new career high in RBI as well. Santana’s current RBI high water mark stands at 85, a number that he reached in both 2014 and 2015. Santana is currently at 72 RBI, and he’ll have 23 games to get 14 RBI, so don’t bet against Carlos.

But what makes this Indians season so special is that fact that the Indians have two hitters who have sent 30 balls into the cheap seats. Mike Napoli has been Carlos Santana’s partner in crime thus far. Mike Napoli is having the best year of his 11-year career, as he has hit 31 home runs and has 92 RBI.

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The 31 home runs is already a career-high for Nap, and 92 RBI ties his career high. Napoli is becoming a Cleveland icon of the field as well, as the phrase “Party at Napoli’s” has become a staple of this 2016 team.

The Indians as a whole have been hitting more home runs this year too. Jason Kipnis has already set a new career-high in home runs with 22, and Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin have each added 14 long balls.

The Indians have hit 170 home runs for far this year, which is already 21 more home runs than they hit all of last year. The Tribe’s offense in 2016 is the offense that Indians fans have dreamed about having for years, and it’s being led by two of the best power hitters in all of baseball.

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