Kansas City hasn’t had much to cheer about this season. But on Tuesday night, one of the Royals’ least-heralded players gave the franchise a historic moment.
Tyler Tolbert went 5-for-5 to start the game against the Mets. That gave him hits in 12 straight plate appearances, matching the longest streak in MLB’s expansion era (since 1961). He also tied a broader MLB record held by Johnny Kling and Walt Droppo for consecutive at-bats with a hit.
Tolbert started his night with a two-run homer. Then he beat out four straight infield singles, the last three coming on ground balls he just outran. The game itself was a back-and-forth mess, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was a 27-year-old utility player nobody drafted until the 13th round in 2019 suddenly owning a slice of baseball immortality.
The streak that kept going
Here’s how absurd this run was: Tolbert’s 12 straight hits included a homer, four singles, and a whole lot of hustle. He’s hitting .391 this season with two homers, five RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 32 games. Over his 96-game MLB career, he’s batting .333 with three homers and 31 steals.
The Royals drafted Tolbert out of UAB as a raw athlete with speed. He’s played all over the field, never really projected as a star. But for one night, he did something nobody in the modern game has done longer.
MLB confirmed the record on social media. The clip shows Tolbert’s reaction — mostly just a guy trying to do his job, suddenly surrounded by history.
The Royals entered Tuesday at 37-54. They need sparks wherever they can find them. Tolbert’s streak will end eventually. Probably soon. But for now, he’s got a piece of history that can’t be taken away.
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