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List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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In baseball, a home run is credited to a batter when they hit a fair ball and reach home safely on the same play, without the benefit of an error.[1] 136 players have hit a home run in their first at bat of a Major League Baseball (MLB) game,[A] the most recent being Matt Gorski of the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 24, 2025.[3] George Tebeau and Mike Griffin both hit home runs in their first at bats on April 16, 1887. These players are recognized together as the first player to homer in his first major league at bat because it is unknown which one hit first.[4][5]
Tyler Austin (left) and Aaron Judge (right) are the only teammates to homer in their first major league at bats in the same game and to accomplish this in back-to-back at bats.
Luke Stuart, Walter Mueller, and Johnnie LeMaster hit inside-the-park home runs in their first at bats.[6] Bill Duggleby, Jeremy Hermida, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Daniel Nava hit grand slams in their first at bats—Kouzmanoff and Nava doing so on the first pitch.[7] Ernie Koy and Heinie Mueller were the first players to accomplish the feat in the same game, doing so for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively, in the first inning of Opening Day in 1938.[8][9] This was equalled in 2016 by Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge, who became the only players to achieve the feat as teammates (playing for the New York Yankees) and in back-to-back at bats.[8][10] Two players, Bob Nieman and Keith McDonald, each homered in their second at bat also.[11][12] Paul Gillespie and John Miller are the only players to hit home runs in both their first and last major league at bats;[13][14] for Miller these were the only two home runs of his MLB career.[15][16] For 23 players, their first at bat home run was the only home run of their major league careers, and Gary Gaetti hit more home runs (360) than any other player who hit one in their first at bat.[17][18]
Of the 31 players eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame who have hit a home run in their first major league at bat, two – Earl Averill and Hoyt Wilhelm – have been elected,[16] neither of them on the first ballot.[19] Players are eligible for the Hall of Fame if they have played in at least 10 MLB seasons, and have either been retired for five seasons or deceased for at least six months.[20] These requirements leave 19 players ineligible who are active and 75 players ineligible who did not play in 10 seasons.[B]
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Players
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See also
Notes
- Although the MLB was founded in 1903, MLB recognizes National League and American League statistics since their founding: 1876 and 1901, respectively. Also, statistics from several defunct leagues (such as the American Association)[2] have been retroactively recognized by MLB as major league. See also: Major League Baseball#Other recognized leagues.
- The Baseball-Reference.com profiles of each player verify their active status and service time.
- Bob Tillman walked in his first two plate appearances (in the top of the 2nd inning on May 19, 1962, and as a pinch hitter on April 15, 1962).[88][89] These do not count as at bats.[90]
- MLB.com incorrectly lists the date of Narum's home run in his first MLB at bat as May 5, 1963. He in fact hit the home run on May 3, 1963, as confirmed by Baseball Almanac and Baseball-Reference.com.[94]
- John Montefusco walked in his first plate appearance in the top of the 2nd inning.[118] This does not count as an at bat.[90]
- The Houston Astros were part of the National League until the 2012 season, after which they moved to the American League.[120]
- Tim Wallach walked in his first plate appearance in the top of the 5th inning.[131] This does not count as an at bat.[90]
- Carmelo Martínez walked in his first plate appearance in the bottom of the 3rd inning.[134] This does not count as an at bat.[90]
- Ricky Jordan walked in his first plate appearance in the bottom of the 2nd inning.[146] This does not count as an at bat.[90] Even though Jordan homered on the first pitch of his first at bat, he is not counted as having homered on the first career pitch he faced in the major leagues because he had already faced five pitches in the aforementioned first plate appearance.[146]
- The MLB.com article titled "Players with home run in first at-bat" incorrectly lists the date of Stechschulte's home run in his first MLB at bat as April 1, 2001. He in fact did not play on that day and hit the home run on April 17, 2001, as confirmed by Baseball Almanac and Baseball-Reference.com.[184]
- Elijah Dukes walked in his first plate appearance in the top of the 2nd inning.[215] This does not count as an at bat.[90]
- Both MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com list Lou Montañez's debut as April 28, 2008,[219][220] in a suspended game that was subsequently resumed and completed on August 25, 2008.[221] Although Montañez only entered the game as a pinch hitter on the latter date,[221] the game is recorded as having been played on the day it started (April 28). The Elias Sports Bureau still credits Montañez with a home run in his first MLB at bat, however, because he was not in the major leagues on April 28.[222]
- Zack Collins appeared as a pinch hitter on June 19, 2019, and drew a walk.[269][270] This counted only as a plate appearance and a game played,[271][272] but not as an at bat.[90]
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References
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