The Baltimore Orioles' Jonathan Villar hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning at Camden Yards on Wednesday night, the 6,106th homer of 2019, setting an MLB single-season record. It comes with 18 days left in the regular season.
The previous mark was set in 2017. Before that season, the mark stood at 5,693 homers in 2000.
Villar's three-run shot off Caleb Ferguson of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the 22nd home run of Wednesday's slate across baseball. It was Villar's career-high 21st homer.
"Somebody told me after the homer. That's unbelievable,'' Villar said. "That's impressive for me, not for me, it's for the team because we hit it here. That's awesome. They put the bat in the Hall of Fame. I'm excited for that.''
Baltimore has allowed a single-season record 280 homers, so manager Brandon Hyde said he enjoyed Villar's blast more than many he's witnessed this season.
"The home runs are up everywhere and it's tough to keep the ball in the ballpark. It's tough to keep the ball in this ballpark on a humid night when the ball was traveling,'' Hyde said. "I've seen enough home runs here from the other side, so it's nice to get one from our side.''
By night's end, the major league total had reached 6,125 home runs -- and it's only Sept. 11. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, there have been 661 more home runs through this date than any other season in major league history.
In this season of the home run, 16 teams are on a pace to set franchise records. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, 12 teams set the record for their franchise in 2000. Five teams -- the Dodgers, Twins, Yankees, Padres and Astros -- have already set their franchise marks.
The 2017 season saw 17 teams with at least 200 home runs, the most in a single major league season. There have already been 18 teams to hit 200 homers this year, and five more are on pace to reach 200.
Oakland's Marcus Semien hit the record-tying 6,105th homer earlier Wednesday night.
New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso leads the majors with 47 home runs.
The Twins lead the majors with 277 after Jorge Polanco connected in the third inning Wednesday against Washington ace Stephen Strasburg at Target Field. The Twins' total is the most for a team in a single season.
In August, big league batters broke the monthly home run record for the third time this year when they hit 1,228 home runs, the Elias Sports Bureau said Sunday. That surpassed the 1,142 in June and 1,135 in May.
There were 5,585 home runs last year.
Information from ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press was used in this report.