The MLB broke the single season home run record when Alex Gordon hit one out last Tuesday in Toronto. The previous record was set in 2000 at 5,693 home runs. This is a change from the recent trend, according to MLB, of home runs, which had been declining each year since the record setting 2000 season.

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Individually, Giancarlo Stanton leads the league with 57 home runs. This season has seen plenty of home runs records broken. According to ESPN, there has been more players with 10, and 15 home runs, with 20 within reach and the most rookie home runs. Aaron Judge has broken the rookie home run record, cranking his 50th out of the park on Monday evening. Dodgers rookie sensation Cody Bellinger broke the NL record on Friday with his 39th round-bagger. It's not just individuals who are breaking the records. Many teams have broken their home run franchise records, as well.

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There has been dispute over if the balls are "juiced" but, the MLB has stated that there haven’t been any changes in the ball makeup and materials for this season. Another factor that could be contributing to the heightened number of homers is that the ballparks are slowly shrinking. Since Citi Field was opened in 2009, the fences have been moved in twice. The Braves new stadium, SunTrust Park is slightly smaller than the old Turner Field and at some points. Additionally, the Astros removed and leveled Tal's hill in center field to add more hospitality in the ballpark.

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Another potential reason for the home run spike is that pitchers are throwing harder than ever, meaning the ball comes off of the bat a little faster and travels a lot farther. The average speed of a fastball has been rising and, in 2017, it is the fastest it has ever been. Aroldis Chapman's' fastball tops the MLB at an average of 99.7 mph. To be one of the 50 fastest pitchers in baseball, you would have to average a 96.8 mph fastball. Along with pitch velocity being up, exit velocity is up too. Aaron Judge hit a homerun with an exit velocity of 121.1 mph to top the league. The 50th best exit velocity is 90.7 mph, up from 90.0 mph in 2015. With pitchers throwing harder and hitters hitting harder home runs, the MLB is on pace for 6,189 homers in 2017, which would shatter the record by almost 500 home runs. This season has surpassed the steroid era, hopefully erasing the asterisk from the top of the record books.