Tyler Tolbert Ties MLB Record with Hits in Twelve Straight Plate Appearances
Kansas City Royals outfielder Tyler Tolbert made baseball history on Tuesday evening, hitting safely in twelve consecutive plate appearances to tie an all-time Major League Baseball record. The achievement unfolded during a 16-12 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field, capping off a remarkable hitting streak that began over the weekend.
Tolbert, typically positioned in the ninth spot in the Royals’ lineup, began his streak on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies with a pair of singles. After not playing on Sunday, he returned to the lineup on Monday for the series finale against Philadelphia, where he tallied another single, a run-scoring double, and his career-first home run.
The record-tying performance continued into Tuesday’s high-scoring affair against the Mets. Tolbert blasted a two-run homer in the second inning, followed by singles in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. His twelfth consecutive hit, an infield single in the seventh inning, matched a record previously set by Johnny Kling in 1902 and Walt Dropo in 1952. This historic hit occurred as the Royals mounted a significant comeback, turning a 9-4 deficit into a 16-9 lead.
Before this extraordinary run, Tolbert held a career batting average of .247 in 85 big-league at-bats, a mark consistent with his .246 average over seven minor league seasons. The Royals informed Tolbert that some of his memorabilia, including his bat, is going to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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