Weston Wilson ties IronPigs single-season home run record

Weston Wilson has tied the IronPigs record for home runs in a season. (Cheryl Pursell)

Weston Wilson made IronPigs history on Sunday night, slugging his way to tying a team record for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The right-handed hitter continued what’s been an impressive breakout campaign in Allentown. Wilson launched two home runs in a 9-2 win over Syracuse at Coca-Cola Park, bringing his total to 29 to match the current club record for homers in a single season.

Wilson, 28, hit a solo shot in the first inning on Sunday before adding a three-run blast an inning later to tie the record. He doubled later in the game to make it a 3-for-5 night with 10 total bases and four RBIs.

With his latest serving as his best performance of the year, Wilson has produced all season for the IronPigs — aside from a four-game stint with the Phillies in which he homered in his first major-league plate appearance. In 112 games for Lehigh Valley, he’s slashing .259/.364/.531 with 29 homers, 77 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.

Home run No. 29 for Wilson tied him in IronPigs history with Rhys Hoskins, who clubbed 29 homers for Lehigh Valley in 2017 on his way to earning the International League MVP award. Hoskins was promoted to Philadelphia in August of that season and went on a tear, becoming the fastest player to reach 17 home runs as he finished fourth place in National League Rookie of the Year voting despite playing 50 games.

Although Wilson and Hoskins are tied for now, there’s still plenty of time this September for that to change. Wilson will have 18 more games to try to pass Hoskins and become the sole IronPigs single-season home run king, starting on Tuesday as Lehigh Valley heads to Buffalo to begin a six-game series.