When Tyler O’Neill is swinging the bat well, Boston Red Sox fans know how hot he can get.
In just 113 games for the Red Sox last year, O’Neill smashed 31 home runs — the second-most of his career. He was arguably the best hitter in baseball through the first month of the season, then put together impressive hot streaks after the All-Star Break and in early September.
While he missed considerable time with injuries, O’Neill parlayed his strong season with Boston into a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles last winter.
After a slow, injury-plagued start with the Orioles, the slugging outfielder is finally hitting his stride.
O’Neill homered again on Tuesday, powering Baltimore to a 16-4 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays in the first game of their doubleheader at Camden Yards. The red-hot Orioles have now won four straight games, and O’Neill’s gone deep in all of them.
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The two-time Gold Glove-winner went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBI on Tuesday afternoon, clubbing a three-run homer off Blue Jays reliever Lazaro Estrada in the bottom of the sixth. His streak of four consecutive games with a long ball is the longest of his career.
Similar to last year, O’Neill has caught fire in late July. He’s tallied multiple hits in four of his last five games, racking up 10 RBI and seven runs during that stretch.
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The 30-year-old is one of the streakiest hitters in baseball, which Baltimore has seen first-hand this season. After an ice-cold first half that included multiple trips to the injured list, he’s suddenly red-hot and back on track.
It might be too late to save the Orioles’ season, however, as they’re last in the AL East and nine games below .500. He’ll need to stay healthy and keep mashing in the second half if Baltimore wants to climb back into contention.
Featured image via James A. Pittman/Imagn Images
