Robert Pena Crowned New Pioneer League Home Run Record
The Missoula PaddleHeads infielder, Robert Pena has officially taken the crown as the Pioneer League’s single-season home run champion, crushing his way past the previous record with weeks left to add to his total.
Missoula PaddleHeads slugger Roberto Pena has officially claimed the title of "Home Run King" in the 86-year history of the Pioneer League. On Wednesday, Pena launched two home runs to surpass teammate Adam Fogel's single-season record of 35, set just last year. Pena reached the milestone of 36 home runs in the PaddleHeads' 73rd game of the season—matching the traditional 76-game schedule era—with 23 games still remaining to extend his record.
Fogel, who hit 31 homers through 73 games last season, currently sits second in the league this year with 31, setting up a thrilling home run race as Missoula heads into the final month of the regular season.
Pena's achievement adds to a remarkable stretch of power-hitting dominance for the PaddleHeads, marking the fourth time since 2021 that a Missoula player has set the league's single-season home run record. Fogel broke the mark in 2024, surpassing Jayson Newman's 32 in 2022. Newman had surpassed Zac Almond's 26 in 2021, which had topped Gregory Morrison's long-standing record of 23 from 1997.
From 1963 to 2020, the Pioneer League played a 76-game schedule, making Pena's feat—like Fogel's last year—particularly special as both reached their record marks within that span. Since 2021, the league has expanded to a 96-game schedule, giving fans even more opportunities to witness history.