Mets fans will be watching for many things as the second-half unfolds: The standings, the trade market, Zack Wheeler‘s return, and many other occurrences that are bound to spur.
One of the more overlooked story lines will be Yoenis Cespedes‘ pursuit of the Mets’ single-season home run record.
“Yo” currently has 21 home runs in 80 games played. He would need another 21 over the team’s final 74 games to set the Mets’ single-season home run record. It’s a stretch, but it’s not insurmountable for Cespedes.
If he has another second half like he did last season, he could have a real chance to shatter this record. He hit 22 home runs after the All-Star break last year, including 17 after he was traded to the Mets at the deadline. Since he came to the majors in 2012, Cespedes has been a far better all-around hitter in the second half, he’s hitting .285/.331/.520 compared to .267/.321/.481 in the first half. But he has 72 homers in the first half compared to 55 in the second half.
Regardless of whether those splits matter or not, Yoenis Cespedes will have a real chance to set the Mets’ single-season home run record this year. The Mets’ single-season home run record was set by Todd Hundley in 1996, when he hit 41 home runs. This mark was later tied by Carlos Beltran in 2006. Mike Piazza has the only other 40 homer-season in Mets history; he hit 40 in 1999.
