Here’s our weekly look at 10 mind-blowing notes from the last week in baseball (April 24-30).
Birthdays are important
Celebrating your 20th birthday in an MLB game is already an achievement, given that most players are still in the Minors at that age. But Konnor Griffin didn’t just play Friday, he put on a show, crushing his first career home run. He became the fourth player in MLB history to homer on his birthday at age 20 or younger, joining Aramis Ramirez in 1998, Buddy Lewis in 1936 and Fred Carroll in 1884, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. But none of those other homers were the first in a player's career, like Griffin’s. He became the 25th player in history to hit his first career home run on his birthday, and the youngest of the group, per Elias. Griffin finished the day with three hits, becoming the youngest player since at least 1900 with three hits in a game on his birthday.
Nobody beats the Miz
Jacob Misiorowski had his high velocity on full display on Saturday. His 102.7 mph strikeout of Oneil Cruz was the fastest strikeout pitch by a starter under pitch tracking (2008). Misiorowski had eight strikeouts at 100.0+ mph in the game, the second-most by a pitcher in a game under tracking (9/17/22 Hunter Greene 9). Four of those were at 101.0+ mph, the second-most in a game (9/17/22 Greene 8). And two of those were at 102.0+ mph, tied for the most by a starter in a game (9/17/22 Greene).
Be like Mike
Mike Trout’s home run on Sunday was his 797th career extra-base hit. That broke a tie with Garret Anderson for the most in Angels history. The only other active players who lead a franchise all-time in extra-base hits are José Ramírez (CLE) and Giancarlo Stanton (MIA).
Bennie Barrels
Ben Rice hit his 10th home run of the season on Monday, giving both him and Aaron Judge at least 10 each already. They’re the second duo of Yankees teammates to each reach 10 homers before the 30th team game, joining 1956 Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. They’re also the second duo of MLB teammates to each have at least 10 home runs and 20 walks before their team’s 30th game, joining Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds for the 2000 Cardinals.
He has power
With another homer on Monday, Munetaka Murakami's first 12 MLB extra-base hits have been home runs. That extended the longest such streak to start a player’s MLB career since at least 1900. The prior longest was 10, by 2016 Dae-ho Lee, per Elias. Monday was Murakami’s 29th career MLB game. His 12 homers tied 2019 Will Smith for the third-most in a player’s first 29 career MLB games, behind only 2018-19 Aristides Aquino (14) and 2017 Rhys Hoskins (13).
Electric Elly
Elly De La Cruz hit his 10th homer of the season on Tuesday and reached eight stolen bases. He became the seventh player with at least 10 home runs and eight stolen bases before his team’s 30th game of a season since the modern SB rule was adopted (1898). He joined 2002 Vladimir Guerrero, 1997 Larry Walker, 1996 Barry Bonds, 1995 Mo Vaughn, 1987 Eric Davis and 1922 Ken Williams.
Shotime
Shohei Ohtani made his fifth pitching start of the season on Tuesday and continued his impressive run, emerging with a 0.60 ERA. That’s the fifth-lowest ERA in the first five starts of a season by a Dodgers pitcher since earned runs became official in the NL (1912). He trails only 1981 Fernando Valenzuela (0.20), 1985 Valenzuela (0.21), 1972 Don Sutton (0.42) and 1926 Jesse Petty (0.57).
Churn up the walks
Nick Kurtz has drawn a walk in 19 consecutive games through Thursday. That’s tied with 1941 Ted Williams for the third-longest streak since walks have been tracked for batters (1910 NL, 1913 AL). He trails 1947 Roy Cullenbine (22) and 2002-03 Barry Bonds (20).
Just keep hitting
Ildemaro Vargas has a 26-game hitting streak entering Friday. 23 of those have been to open the season. That’s tied with 2006 Edgar Renteria for the third-longest hitting streak to start a season in the last 90 years, behind 1976 Ron LeFlore (30 games) and 1937 Gee Walker (27).
Current ironman
Matt Olson has played 814 consecutive games entering Friday, dating to May 2, 2021. His streak is the 11th-longest in MLB history. The only other streaks of at least 700 consecutive games to begin in the divisional era (1969) are, of course, 1982-98 Cal Ripken Jr. (2,632 games), as well as 1975-83 Steve Garvey (1,207), 2000-07 Miguel Tejada (1,152), 1978-83 Pete Rose (745) and 1981-86 Dale Murphy (740).