Jordon Adell of Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) hit 25 home runs in 2017 and earned the MaxPreps National Player of the Year honor. And while his total ranks 16th all-time in the history of high school baseball, it may have been the greatest home-run hitting season ever.
Akin to Babe Ruth's 54-home run season of 1920, Adell's home run total is a complete outlier from the seasons that occurred prior to and after his big season. In the four years prior to 2017, no high school player hit more than 20 home runs (two hit exactly 20). While two of the high school seasons since Adell graduated have been affected by COVID, no player in the nation has hit 20 or more home runs since.
Yet Adell is not close to being the national single season home run record holder. Perhaps the reason is that he was born at the wrong time and perhaps the wrong place.
MaxPreps has compiled a list of every high school hitter who has bashed at least 20 home runs in a season, starting with Tracy Holt of Asher (Okla.), who is believed to be the first 20-home run hitter in 1979. One trend that becomes immediately apparent is that 20-home run seasons have been a bit of a roller coaster over the past 40 years with highs around the year 2000 and the year 2010. And there's a good reason for that.
In 2001, the National Federation of High Schools passed a rule that ordered all bats used in high school play to mirror the new NCAA ball exit speed rule (BESR).
"We need to stay vigilant to ways in which technology is having an
impact," said NFHS President Dick Durost in January 2000. "The new rule will make the physical dimensions of non-wood bats
more closely mirror those of wood bats."
The new bat rule had an immediate affect on the total number of 20-home run hitters. After a total of 12 players hit 20 or more home runs in 1998, 13 in 1999 and 11 in 2000 (including national records of 30 by Wade Miller of Alabama in 2000 and Josh Gray in 1999), the totals plummeted to five in 2002, three in 2003 and two in 2004.
But then the home run totals started to rise again. This was due to the creation of composite bats. According to cheapbats.com in 2013, composite bats worked the opposite of aluminum bats. While aluminum bats provided plenty of offensive pop while new, they deadened after extensive use. Composite bats were the opposite and actually became "hotter" after more use.
Thus by 2010, an all-time high of 15 players had hit 20 or more homers and in 2011 there were 13. The NFHS then instituted another rule for the 2012 season, specifying that all bats needed to match the Ball Batted Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard rather than the BESR standard.
Again 20-home run hitters nosedived to the point that only four accomplished the feat in 2012 and only four have done it in the nine years since, topped by Adell's 25 in 2017, which now becomes much more impressive in hindsight.
Home run totals at the NCAA level also mirrors this high school phenomenon with peaks in 2000 and 2010.
For some unexplained reason, playing in Oklahoma is also conducive to hitting lots of home runs. Of the 152 players who have hit 20 or more home runs in a single season, 46 (30 percent) are from the Sooner State. Alabama is second on the list with 15. Baseball powerhouse states Florida, California and Texas have 14 combined.
One reason that Oklahoma has so many on the list is that teams play a high number of games (as many as 50) in a season. However, so does Alabama, which has a third of the number of players on the list as Oklahoma.
Another reason might be that many of those players come from the smallest schools in the state and those players compete in the fall and the spring. Playing as many as 70-80 games in a school year allows those players to hone their skills through practice and repetition.
Additionally, those small schools regularly play much larger schools during the spring season. Case in point, Roff, one of the top small school teams in the state, has an enrollment of 90 and the town has a population of 700. Yet, Roff defeated Deer Creek (Edmond), enrollment 1,600. This year Red Oak, enrollment 81, defeated Union (Tulsa), enrollment 3,500, and Broken Arrow, 3,800. Tougher competition may sharpen the hitting skills of those small school players and better prepare them for the competition at their own level.
Whatever the reason, Oklahoma has a strong presence on MaxPreps single season home runs list. In fact, an Oklahoma player has held the national record 31 of the past 42 seasons.
Holt set the record in 1979, but Dave Clark of Shannon (Miss.) broke the record the following year with 23. Anthony Whitson of Unicoi County (Tenn.) upped the record to 24 in 1987 and Ricky Vanderburg of Bokchito (Okla.) raised it to 26 in 1989. Shon Walker of Harrison County (Ky.) put the record at 29 in 1992 and Chris Aguilla of McQueen (Reno, Nev.) tied the mark in 1997. Gray hit the current national record of 30 in the fall of 1999 and Miller tied the mark in the spring of 2000.
Gray, by the way, holds the record for most home runs in a calendar school year, hitting 26 in the spring of 1999 and 30 in the fall of 1999 for a total of 56 in the two seasons combined.
Notable professional players on the list include Bo Jackson of McAdory (Ala.) with 20 in 1980, Joey Gallo of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) with 25 in 2011, Mike Moustakas of Chatsworth (Calif.) with 24 in 2007 and Preston Wilson of Bamberg-Ehrhardt (S.C.) with 22 in 1992.
Sources for the list include the NFHS record book, state association record books, coaches association record books, Georgia Dugout Preview, Cal-Hi Sports Record Book by Mark and Nelson Tennis, MaxPreps leaderboards, and various newspapers accessed through newspapers.com.
Corrections or additions? E-mail Kevin Askeland at kevinaskeland65@gmail.com.
Jordon Adell, Ballard
File photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
30 — Wade Miller,
Long (Skipperville, Ala.), 2000
30 — Josh Gray,
Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 1999
29 — Shon Walker,
Harrison County (Cynthiana, Ky.), 1992
29 — Chris Aguilla,
McQueen (Reno, Nev.), 1997
28 — James Peterson,
Winterset (Iowa), 2000
28 — Jacob Realmuto,
Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 2010
28 — Taylor Hawkins, Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 2012
27 — Brad Nelson,
Bishop Garrigan (Algona, Iowa), 1999
27 — Trey Wingo, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 2005
27 — Ethan Bennett,
Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 2010
27 — Kevin Cron,
Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 2011
26 — Ricky Vanderburg, Bokchito (Okla.), 1989
26 — Brendan McCurry,
Roff (Roff, Okla.), 2010
26 — Christian Stewart,
Providence Christian Academy (Lilburn, Ga.), 2012
26 — Hommy Rosado,
Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 2010
25 — Clayton Sander,
Camanche (Iowa), 1988
25 — Will Hunt,
Asher (Okla.), 1989
25 — Joe Little,
Butner (Cromwell, Okla.), 1996
25 — Jason Stokes,
Coppell (Texas), 2000
25 — Josh Peaslee,
Carney (Okla.), 2000
25 — Micah Owings,
Gainesville (Ga.), 2002
25 — Rich Witten,
Danville (Ky.), 2006
25 — Brodie Pullen,
Calhoun (Ga.), 2007
25 — Jose Trevino,
John Paul II (Corpus Christi, Texas), 2011
25 — Joey Gallo,
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 2011
25 — Jordon Adell,
Ballard (Louisville, Ky.), 2017
24 — Anthony Whitson,
Unicoi County (Erwin, Tenn.) 1987
24 — Kyle Wingfield, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 1998
24 — Josh Gray, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 2000
24 — Dearth Parker, Roff (Okla.), 2005
24 — Colby Rasmus,
Russell County (Seale, Ala.), 2005
24 — Mike Moustakas,
Chatsworth (Calif.), 2007
24 — BJ Hermsen,
West Delaware (Manchester, Iowa), 2008
24 — Zach Fish,
Gull Lake (Richland, Mich.), 2011
24 — Clint Frazier,
Loganville (Ga.), 2012
23 — Dave Clark,
Shannon (Miss.), 1980
23 — Paul Morse, Danville (Ky.), 1992
23 — Joe Crede,
Fatima (Westphalia, Mo.), 1996
23 — Drew Henson,
Brighton (Mich.), 1997
23 — Jim Willison,
Morley Stanwood (Morley, Mich.), 1998
23 — Kyle Wingfield, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 1998
23 — Scott Riley,
Pittsfield (Ill.), 1999
23 — K.W. Sexton,
East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), 1999
23 — Cody Ehlers,
Stillwater (Okla.), 2000
23 — Brian Barnett,
McQueen (Reno, Nev.), 2007
23 — Kevin O'Leary,
Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.), 2010
22 — Marvin Moore, Roff (Okla.), 1984
22 — Patrick Ollis, Unicoi County (Erwin, Tenn.), 1986
22 — Mike McQuain,
Depew (Okla.), 1986
22 — Mike Miller,
Centerville (Iowa), 1988
22 — Preston Wilson,
Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Bamberg, S.C.), 1992
22 — Jesse Eyre,
Climax-Scotts (Climax, Mich.), 1998
22 — Drew Henson, Brighton (Mich.), 1998
22 — Corey Patterson,
Harrison (Kennesaw, Ga.), 1998
22 — Jeremy Reed,
Lookout Valley (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 1998
22 — Matt Ames,
Stanhope Elmore (Millbrook, Ala.), 1999
22 — Alex Cadena,
Alexander (Laredo, Texas), 1999
22 — Kyle Moyer,
Mohawk (Sycamore, Ohio), 1999
22 — Matt Cooper,
Ripley (Okla.), 2000
22 — Kevin Bookout,
Stroud (Okla.), 2001
22 — Brandon Lowe,
Vidalia (Ga.), 2003
22 — Jarrett Warren, Henry County (McDonough, Ga.), 2003
22 — Mitchell Trimmer, Roff (Okla.), 2004
22 — Del Howell,
Tuscaloosa County (Northport, Ala.), 2006
22 — Adam Coe, Russell County (Seale, Ala.), 2006
22 — Jordan Swagerty,
Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), 2007
22 — Henry Castaigne,
Lakehill Prep (Dallas), 2007
22 — Kris Bryant,
Bonanza (Las Vegas), 2010
22 — Aaron Cornell, Roff (Okla.), 2010
22 — Kevin Cron, Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 2010
22 — Ben Moore,
Cullman (Cullman, Ala.), 2011
22 — Matthew Goodson,
Oxford (Ala.), 2011
22 — Javier Baez,
Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), 2011
22 — Ben Moore, Cullman (Ala.), 2011
22 — Kyle Carter,
Columbus (Ga.), 2011
21 — David King, Asher (Okla.), 1983
21 — Brad Wilson,
Towns County (Hiawassee, Ga.), 1988
21 — David Laffoon,
Odin (Ill.), 1990
21 — Josh Gregson,
Dale (Okla.), 1992
21 — Dion Newby, Harrison County (Cynthiana, Ky.), 1992
21 — Brad Allison, Harrison County (Cynthiana, Ky.), 1992
21 — Mike Wilson,
Central (Marlow, Okla.), 1994
21 — Mike Wilson, Central (Marlow, Okla.), 1996
21 — Robby Williams,
Doss (Louisville, Ky.), 1997
21 — Tommy Pearce,
Marion (Ind.), 1998
21 — Corey Hart,
Greenwood (Bowling Green, Ky.), 1999
21 — Billy Austin,
Salina (Okla.), 1999
21 — Jeff Clement,
Marshalltown (Iowa), 1999
21 — Justin Bowen, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 2000
21 — Jeff Clement, Marshalltown (Iowa), 2000
21 — Joe Hooft,
Galena (Reno, Nev.), 2001
21 — Justin Colbert,
Allen (Okla.), 2001
21 — Bobby Glover,
Caney (Okla.), 2001
21 — Chris Walston,
El Capitan (Lakeside, Calif.), 2002
21 — Steven Lerud, Galena (Reno, Nev.), 2003
21 — Will Gaff,
Streator (Ill.), 2005
21 — Brendan McCurry,
Tupelo (Okla.), 2008
21 — Matt Hobgood,
Norco (Calif.), 2009
21 — Randal Grichuk,
Lamar Consolidated (Rosenberg, Texas), 2009
21 — Lance Jarreld,
Goodpasture Christian (Madison, Tenn.), 2010
21 — Casey Kicklighter,
Wayne County (Jesup, Ga.), 2010
21 — Aaron Chalk, Caney (Okla.), 2010
21 — Ajay Snow,
Leroy (Ala.), 2011
21 — Joey Curletta, Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 2011
21 — Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 2012
20 — Tracy Holt, Asher (Okla.), 1979
20 — Bo Jackson,
McAdory (McCalla, Ala.), 1982
20 — Will Edwards, Unicoi County (Erwin, Tenn.), 1985
20 — Butch Harris,
Broken Bow (Okla.), 1986
20 — Clifton McKenzie, Depew (Okla.), 1986
20 — Paul Brannon,
Kings Mountain (N.C.), 1989
20 — Rod Walker,
Morristown-Hamblen West (Morristown, Tenn.), 1989
20 — Heath Graham,
Stringer (Miss.), 1993
20 — Russ Gload,
East Hampton (N.Y.), 1994
20 — Ben Fjelland,
North Polk (Alleman, Iowa), 1996
20 — Andy Baxter, Unicoi County (Erwin, Tenn.), 1997
20 — Jonathan Johnson, Unicoi County (Erwin, Tenn.), 1998
20 — Chris Martinez,
Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), 1998
20 — Kevin Bills,
Reno (Nev.), 1998
20 — Brant Huff,
Oktaha (Okla.), 1998
20 — Travis Loudermilk,
Coalgate (Okla.), 1998
20 — Allen Clay,
Rattan (Okla.), 1998
20 — Albert Concepcion,
El Segundo (Calif.), 1999
20 — Russ Reyes,
Assumption (Davenport, Iowa), 1999
20 — Justin Bowen, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 1999
20 — Kyle Wingfield, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 1999
20 — Jim Duffy,
Airport (Carleton, Mich.), 2000
20 — Kyle Wingfield, Rock Creek (Bokchito, Okla.), 2000
20 — Jake Goodwin,
Parkers Chapel (El Dorado, Ark.), 2001
20 — Timmy Sullivan,
Leedey (Okla.), 2002
20 — Chance Douglass,
Randall (Amarillo, Texas), 2002
20 — Reece Creswell,
Perryton (Texas), 2004
20 — Ryan Pease,
Hydro-Eakly (Hydro, Okla.), 2005
20 — Jake Smith,
Hueytown (Hueytown, Ala.), 2005
20 — Jake Smith, Hueytown (Ala.), 2006
20 — Kyle Burke,
Ooltewah (Tenn.), 2006
20 — David Kindred,
American Christian Academy (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), 2006
20 — Derek Trent,
Dobyns-Bennett (Kingsport, Tenn.), 2007
20 — Nathan Ramier,
Western Dubuque (Epworth, Iowa), 2007
20 — Luke Bole,
Hartselle (Ala.), 2009
20 — Brendan McCurry, Roff (Okla.), 2009
20 — Trevor Begley,
Tushka (Atoka, Okla.), 2009
20 — Blake Logan, Roff (Okla.), 2009
20 — Dayne Parker, Roff (Okla.), 2010
20 — Kyle Gibson,
Henderson County (Henderson, Ky.), 2010
20 — Matt Beaty,
Dresden (Tenn.), 2010
20 — Hunter Renfroe,
Copiah Academy (Gallman, Miss.), 2010
20 — Brad Warren,
Donelson Christian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), 2010
20 — Nick Masonia,
Brooks (Killen, Ala.), 2011
20 — Evan Anderson, Dale (Okla.), 2011
20 — Gavin Lavalley, Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 2013
20 — Jacob Harrison,
Grace Christian (Alexandria, La.), 2014
20 — Cody Muncy,
Red Oak (Okla.), 2017
