MLB record broken for home runs in a single season behind Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge

Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon's home run Tuesday night in Toronto was the 5,694th in the major leagues this season, breaking the previous record set in 2000 -- the heart of the Steroid Era.

In 2014, there were only 4,186 home runs hit -- the fewest in a non-strike season since 1993.

There were 2.53 home runs hit per game through Monday, which would shatter the record of 2.34 in 2000.

Much speculation has been made as to why the home run uptick has occured and the most likely explanation is the ball, which some believe is smaller because the seams are lower. This would create less air resistance. Major League Baseball has denied it made any alterations to the ball.

Rookies accounted for 708 home runs through Monday, the most ever. The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge has 44 and is five shy of Mark McGwire's rookie record of 49 in 1987. The Los Angeles' Dodgers Cody Bellinger has 38, tied for the third most by a rookie in MLB history.

Miami's Giancarlo Stanton leads the majors with 55 home runs and became the third player in history to hit 18 in a month when he did it in August. The feat was previously accomplished by Rudy York (18 in August 1937) and Sammy Sosa (20 in June 1998).

Other records already set this season include 374 multi-homer games through Monday, breaking the old record of 362 set in 1999.

There are 149 players who have registered enough plate appearances to qualify for a league batting title, but an eye-popping 153 players with 15 or more home runs.

Fifty-seven players hit 20 or more home runs in 2014. Entering Tuesday, 108 had done it this season. The record is 111 in 2016.