Boston Red Sox leftfielder Tyler O’Neill of Burnaby, British Columbia recorded his second walk off home run of his Major League Baseball career on Wednesday. He accomplished the feat in a 5-3 Red Sox win over the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Red Sox trailing the Orioles 3-2, O’Neill hit a three-run blast that also scored outfielder Jarren Duran and second baseman Romy Gonzalez. The home run was 393 feet to left centerfield, and came off of Orioles relief pitcher Keegan Akin.
O’Neill’s first walk off home run came on September 22, 2018 in a 5-4 St. Louis Cardinals win over the San Francisco Giants. O’Neill hit a dinger with two out in the bottom of the 10th inning to break a 4-4 tie.
In 2024, O’Neill is batting .258 with 30 home runs and 59 runs batted in. During 101 games and 427 plate appearances, he scored 71 runs and had 96 hits, 17 doubles, four stolen bases, 48 walks, a .349 on base percentage, .546 slugging percentage, 203 total bases, and two sacrifice flies. The sacrifice flies came in an 8-6 Red Sox win over the Philadelphia Phillies on June 12, and in a 9-7 Red Sox win over the New York Yankees on July 26.
According to Rogers Sportsnet, O’Neill is the sixth Canadian born player to have multi 30+ home run seasons. He previously had 34 home runs with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021. The other five players on the list are Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto of Toronto, Ontario (37 home runs in 2010, 36 home runs in 2017 and 36 home runs in 2021), Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau of New Westminster, British Columbia (34 home runs in 2006, 31 home runs in 2007 and 30 home runs in 2009), Colorado Rockies right fielder Larry Walker of Maple Ridge, British Columbia (36 home runs in 1995, a National League leading 49 home runs in 1997, 37 home runs in 1999, and 38 home runs in 2001), outfielder Jason Bay of Trail, British Columbia (32 home runs with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005, 35 home runs with the Pirates in 2006, 31 home runs with the Pirates and Red Sox in 2008, and 36 home runs with the Red Sox in 2009), and Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of Montreal, Quebec (Major League leading 48 home runs in 2021 and 32 home runs in 2022).
With the win, the Red Sox improved to a record of 74 wins and 72 losses. They are four games back of the Minnesota Twins for a playoff spot.
