One of the defining characteristics of Oracle Park lies beyond the right-field wall, in the small piece of the San Francisco Bay known as McCovey Cove. Named for Hall of Fame slugger Willie McCovey, one of the most popular Giants in franchise history, the body of water has served as an enticing target for left-handed hitters since the ballpark opened in 2000.
Sportswriters Mark Purdy and Leonard Koppett are credited with coining the moniker, as they thought it was a fitting nod to McCovey, who likely would have launched dozens of balls into the bay had he played at the waterfront ballpark instead of the windswept Candlestick Park.
Home runs that are hit over the right-field wall and land in McCovey Cove on the fly are dubbed “splash hits,” which remain a thrilling, yet elusive feat for hitters.
Here is everything you need to know about McCovey Cove and the history of splash hits:
How many splash hits have been recorded by Giants players?
108 through the end of the 2025 season.
Who is the all-time leader on the splash hit leaderboard?
No surprise here: Barry Bonds, who tallied 35. Brandon Belt is a distant second with 10. Up next is Pablo Sandoval with eight, Mike Yastrzemski with seven, LaMonte Wade Jr. with six and Denard Span with five.
How many splash hits have been recorded by visiting players?
66 through the end of the 2025 season.
Which visiting player has logged the most splash hits?
Max Muncy, Carlos Delgado and Adam LaRoche are tied for that distinction with three splash hits apiece.
Who was the first player to record a splash hit?
Bonds, of course. His three-run home run off Mets left-hander Rich Rodriguez on May 1, 2000, marked the first splash hit in Oracle Park history.
Have there been any splash hits recorded in the postseason?
Yes, three: Bonds, off the Cardinals’ Chuck Finley on Oct. 12, 2002; Rick Ankiel, off Ramon Ramirez on Oct. 8, 2010; and Bryce Harper, off Hunter Strickland on Oct. 7, 2014.
Have there been any walk-off splash hits?
Yes, four: Bonds, off the Braves’ Ray King on Aug. 19, 2003; Brandon Crawford, off the Rockies’ Rex Brothers on April 13, 2014; and Yastrzemski, off the Padres’ Matt Strahm on July 29, 2020, and again off the Reds’ Emilio Pagán on April 9, 2025.
Are there any players who have recorded a splash hit as a Giant and as a visiting player?
Two players have accomplished the feat: Ryan Klesko and Joc Pederson.
Have any right-handed hitters homered into McCovey Cove?
Yes: Heliot Ramos became the first right-handed hitter to deliver a splash hit after going the other way on a 100.2 mph fastball from the Padres’ Robert Suarez on Sept. 15, 2024.