MLB hitters crushed a record amount of home runs in May

Major League pitchers are striking out batters at a record rate in 2018, but hitters are getting revenge by launching more deep balls than ever before.

With 40 home runs across MLB on Friday, batters set a new league record with 1,135 home runs in the month of May, more than any other month in MLB history.

#Troutani strikes. pic.twitter.com/CKBL6uvRdN

— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2019

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who bashed six home runs in May, set the new record in the eighth inning against the Rockies.

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s home run, there have been more HR this month (1,120) than any other month in @MLB history! pic.twitter.com/QgXe4gqzPn

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 1, 2019

Hitters didn’t just break the record, they shattered it. The previous month was just the third time in MLB history hitters amassed more then 1,100 homers in a month. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, there were significantly fewer home runs hit during the entire 1945 MLB season.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s HR in the 8th inning tonight is the 1,120th HR across MLB this month, the most HR in a single month in MLB history.

It's also 113 more HR than were hit in the entire 1945 season. pic.twitter.com/sD9dyvkOzN

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 1, 2019