Christian Moore ties Tennessee single season home run record
Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore’s historic junior campaign added another chapter on Tuesday as the slugger tied the program record of 24 home runs in a single season.
The blast came in the bottom of the sixth inning against Belmont. Ty Allen was the pitcher and the count was 3-1. The ball travelled 351 feet – just over the right field wall – with 101 miles per hour exit velocity.
Moore’s 24th home run of the season ties the record set by Sonny Cortez back in 1998. The next home run for the slugging infielder will be his 25th of the year and that will move him into sole possession of the record.
C-Mo to the MOON!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 14, 2024
That's No. 24 on the year to tie the single-season program record!
📺 https://t.co/cxgEEhzxib (SECN+)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatBelmont pic.twitter.com/MKSlhJEy5h
The Brooklyn, NY native already owns the program record for home runs with 51 in his career. That’s six more than teammate Blake Burke, who originally broke the record at 40 home runs, set by former Tennessee first baseman Luc Lipcius. Moore caught up with Burke and surpassed him just weeks later with a three-homer day against Kentucky and now has a comfortable lead in the category.
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As for the single season marker for most home runs, Moore and Cortez currently sit atop the leaderboard with 24 while former Tennessee third baseman and Washington Nationals rising star Trey Lipscomb is in third at 22 (2022). Cody Hawn is also tied in third with 22 home runs belted back in 2009.
VFLs Chris Burke (2001), MLB Hall of Famer Todd Helton (1995) and Chuck Barclift (1980) all sit tied for fifth with 20 homers while Luc Lipcius 19 home runs in 2022 is good enough for eighth-best. Griffin Merritt (2023), Jordan Beck (2022), Jorel Ortega (2022) and Doug Hecker (1991) are all tied for ninth in program history with 18 home runs in a single season.
Moore has played with USA Baseball (2023 summer) and was named a four-time preseason All-American entering the 2024 campaign. He was also named to the Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List earlier this year.
