Here’s every first big league hit of 2020
Players always remember their first hit and these players won't be any exception. Even if the 2020 season is unconventional, there's something special about a player collecting his first hit in the Majors.
Here's a list of all the players who have collected their first hit during the 2020 season.
Sept. 26
Jahmai Jones, 2B, Angels (No. 8 prospect)
Jones stepped up to the plate for the first time in the Majors with fellow rookie Jo Adell on second, and wasted no time picking up his first hit and RBI on a line drive to center. A second-round pick in the 2015 Draft, Jones spent 2019 at Double-A Mobile, racking up 113 base hits and scoring 66 runs.
Elliot Soto, SS, Angels
Soto made it back-to-back first hits for the Angels, but his required quite the journey to the big leagues. A 15th-round pick in 2010 by the Cubs, Soto played 867 games in the Minors before a breakout campaign in 2019 with Triple-A Albuquerque as a member of the Rockies' organization. He signed a free-agent deal with Los Angeles to begin the 2020 season and stuck around with the club to earn his first big league playing time, and quickly collected his first hit.
Sept. 24
Jared Oliva, OF, Pirates (No. 10 prospect)
Oliva connected on a 109 mph exit velocity ground ball in his first big league start, but it took him a bit longer to pick up his first base hit. It came on a chopper up the middle, and the 24-year-old got to show off his speed, making it to first in plenty of time for even the best of throws. Oliva had a solid showing at last year's Arizona Fall League, impressing with big Statcast numbers as a runner and batter.
Sept. 20
Zach McKinstry, 2B, Dodgers (No. 19 prospect)
In the fourth at-bat of his big league career, the infielder doubled to nab his first Major League hit. Across four seasons in the Minors, the Ohio native slashed .270/.357/.416 with 30 homers, 61 doubles, 14 triples and 149 RBIs.
Yadiel Hernandez, OF, Nationals
Called up on Sunday for the second time this season, the 32-year-old Cuban outfielder notched his first Major League knock in a pinch-hit appearance in the first of a pair of games against the Marlins. After spending his early professional career playing in the Cuban National Series, across three Minor League seasons, Hernandez hit .301/.385/.503 over 370 games.
Sept. 18
Mickey Moniak, OF, Phillies (No. 13 prospect)
Making his third start for the Phillies since his callup on Sept. 16, Moniak, the 2016 Draft’s No. 1 overall pick, struck out swinging in his first at-bat but recorded his first Major League hit in the fourth inning, lacing a 101.2 mph single to right field off Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Cole. He scored the first run of his career one batter later on Rafael Marchan’s first big league home run.
Sept. 17
Luis Alexander Basabe, OF, Giants (No. 18 prospect)
After entering as a replacement for Mike Yastrzemski, who departed the game due to an injury in the second inning, Basabe struck out swinging in his first plate appearance before connecting on his first career hit, a single to right field, to lead off the sixth inning. The 24-year-old outfielder walked in each of his next two trips to the plate to finish 1-for-2 with two runs scored. He also picked up his first stolen base.
Sept. 14
Rafael Marchan, C, Phillies (No. 8 prospect)
With J.T. Realmuto listed as day-to-day after he left Saturday’s game with hip discomfort, the Phillies selected the contract of 21-year-old catcher Rafael Marchan, who finished the 2019 season at Class A Advanced Clearwater. Starting behind the plate and batting ninth in his Major League debut against the Marlins on Monday, Marchan picked up his first hit in his first at-bat, singling to center field on a 1-2 pitch from Pablo López in the third inning.
Sept. 12
Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays (No. 6 prospect)
The 21-year-old Kirk made the leap from Class A Advanced in 2019 to the Majors in 2020, and he made his mark immediately with a base hit in his debut. The native of Mexico hit .290 across two levels of the Minors last season and has a great approach at the plate.
Sam Huff, C, Rangers (No. 2 prospect)
Huff had a breakout season in 2019, slugging 28 homers across two levels of the Minors (plus one at the Futures Game) to earn a big jump in the prospect rankings. He made another sizable leap by making the move from Class A Advanced in 2019 to the big leagues in 2020, where he collected that first MLB hit in his second game with the Rangers.
Sherten Apostel, INF, Rangers (No. 10 prospect)
Apostel was added to the Texas roster after the first game of Saturday's doubleheader and wasted no time picking up his first big league hit. The 21-year-old Curacao native was promoted to full-season ball in 2019 and only had 41 games at the Class A Advanced level, but has the raw power and arm strength to provide some meaningful innings and at-bats for the Rangers down the stretch.
Pavin Smith, 1B, D-backs (No. 28 prospect)
Smith was the third prospect to pick up his first big league hit in Saturday's game between the Rangers and D-backs, and he did so by beating the shift that had prevented a base knock in his first three at-bats. A first-round Draft choice out of Virginia in 2017, Smith spent all of 2019 with Double-A Jackson, where he hit .291 and walked nearly as often as he struck out.
Sept. 11
Daz Cameron, OF, Tigers (No. 7 prospect)
The son of 17-year Major League outfielder Mike Cameron was hitless through his first nine big league at-bats entering Friday’s game against the White Sox and didn’t fare any better against starter Lucas Giolito in his first two at-bats, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. In his third trip to the plate, however, the 23-year-old outfielder -- batting with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning -- delivered a two-run single to right field on the eighth pitch of his at-bat to extend Detroit’s lead, 3-0.
Sept. 10
Jorge Oña, OF, Padres (No. 24 prospect)
The Padres have become well-known for their home runs this season, so it's fitting to see Oña go deep for his first MLB hit. The 23-year-old didn't get much playing time at the Double-A level last season due to injury, but he slugged five homers in his 25 games with the Amarillo Sod Poodles.
Sept 6.
Jazz Chisholm, SS, Marlins (No. 4 prospect)
In his fourth big league contest, and just his second with a plate appearance, the 22-year-old infielder from the Bahamas singled to right field to record his first knock in the Majors. Chisholm hit .255/.327/.462 over 315 Minor League games before making his debut on Sept. 1.
Sergio Alcántara, SS, Tigers
After 631 games in the Minors over seven seasons, the 24-year-old infielder from the Dominican Republic made his Major League debut on Sunday and sent the second pitch of his big league career out of the park. The home run was just the 10th of Alcántara's professional career after hitting .256/.340/.318 in the Minor Leagues.
Sept. 4
Luis Campusano, C, Padres (No. 4 prospect)
Batting seventh as San Diego’s designated hitter in his Major League debut against Oakland, Campusano went yard, hitting an opposite-field, solo home run down the right-field line in the eighth inning for his first career hit. The homer, which had a 101.1-mph exit velocity and 22-degree launch angle, came in the 21-year-old catcher’s fourth plate appearance, after he had struck out twice and reached base via a hit-by-pitch in his first three trips to the plate.
Sept. 4
Brent Rooker, OF, Twins (No. 12 prospect)
Not only did Rooker collect his first career hit, but he also picked up an RBI in the process. Rooker, whom the Twins took 35th overall in the 2017 Draft, also made sure his first hit was a solid one. The outfielder absolutely crushed the ball as it had an exit velocity of 112.2 mph.
Sept. 1
Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates (No. 2 prospect)
Hayes was often regarded as one of the best defenders in the Minors, but that shouldn't take attention way from his offensive potential. Hayes wasted no time showing that he's more than capable of contributing with the bat as he lined a run-scoring double off the left-field wall in his third trip to the plate. The hit, the first of Hayes' career, had an exit velocity of 109 mph. More »
Aug. 30
Bobby Dalbec, 3B/1B, Red Sox (No. 3 prospect)
Making his big league debut for Boston at first base against the Nationals, the 25-year-old infielder went straight to work. In his second at-bat, Dalbec sent his first ball out of the park in the Majors, the 80th home run of his professional career. Before joining the Red Sox, the Seattle native hit .261/.362/.505 in 383 Minor League games. More »
Aug. 28
Ali Sánchez, C, Mets (No. 28 prospect)
Making his second career start behind the plate in the nightcap of the Mets’ doubleheader against the Yankees, Sánchez singled in his first at-bat of the game, driving the second pitch he saw from Jonathan Loáisiga back up the middle. Sánchez, 23, hit .259/.317/.331 over 381 Minor League games spanning six seasons.
Aug. 28
Estevan Florial, OF, Yankees (No. 7 prospect)
After striking out in each of his first two trips to the plate, Florial made the necessary adjustments in his third at-bat and singled to center for his first career hit. The 22-year-old signed with the Yankees in 2015, but injuries have slowed his development over the past two years and he had yet to reach Double-A prior to his callup.
Aug. 27
Jorge Mateo, SS/2B, San Diego Padres (No. 14 prospect)
Mateo is known for his speed, and he's a candidate to hit a lot of doubles in his MLB career. But his first big league hit came on a non-traditional double that bounced over the outfield fence on a solid line drive to right-center. Mateo was acquired by the Padres in a trade from the A's and offers athleticism and positional flexibility to an exciting, young San Diego roster.
Aug. 27
Jose Garcia, SS, Reds (No. 6 prospect)
In the first at-bat of his big league career, the 22-year-old Garcia collected an infield single for his first base knock. Signed for close to $5 million out of Cuba in 2017, Garcia batted eighth in his Major League debut. He slashed .280/.343/.436 for Class A Advanced Daytona in his second season in the Minors last year.
Aug. 25
Jonah Heim, C, A's (No. 11 prospect)
Heim, making his Major League debut, showed impressive patience and plate discipline in his first plate appearance, drawing a walk on four pitches. However, after settling in over the course of the game, Heim made his debut even more memorable in the seventh inning as he picked up his first career hit. More »
Aug. 25
Mark Payton, OF, Reds
Payton crushed a double deep to center to record his first career hit, and it must have been a sweet moment for the 28-year-old rookie. A seventh-round MLB Draft pick of the Yankees in 2014, Payton made his way to the A's on waivers in late 2018, then joined the Reds twice in the past year -- once in the Rule 5 Draft, followed by a return to the A's, only to be acquired by Cincinnati again in a trade.
Aug. 24
Leody Taveras, OF, Rangers (No. 3 prospect)
Appearing in his second game with the Rangers but making his first career start, Taveras picked up his first Major League hit in his second at-bat, lining a 2-0 changeup into left field for a single. The 21-year-old outfielder hit leadoff for the Rangers and started in center field. More »
Aug. 23
Jesús Sánchez, OF, Marlins (No. 5 prospect)
It took a couple games, but Sánchez now has a batting average. The 22-year-old outfielder went hitless in his first 10 at-bats, but he came through with an RBI double in the ninth inning on Sunday. First hits are always memorable and if you need any further proof, just check out Sánchez's reaction at the end of the video. More »
Aug. 23
Brian Navaretto, C, Marlins
It didn't take long for the 25-year-old backstop to secure a big league average, singling for his first hit in the Majors in the second at-bat of his debut. The Puerto Rico native got into 472 Minor League games before becoming a big leaguer, accumulating a .214/.264/.307 slash line with 24 home runs and 156 RBIs. More »
Aug. 22
Ryan Mountcastle, OF, Orioles (No. 5 prospect)
Known for his above-average approach and power at the plate, Mountcastle got his first hit in less-than-impressive fashion. Still, the rookie hit 25 homers in 2019 with Triple-A Norfolk and should start finding the outfield seats sooner or later for Baltimore.
Aug. 21
Cristian Pache, OF, Braves (No. 1 prospect)
Pache is well-known for his great glove, but the 21-year-old hit .277 with 57 extra-base hits in 130 games across two levels of the Minors in 2019. He didn't quite get extra bases on his first big league hit, but he was all smiles and celebrating with his teammates all the same after the momentous occasion.
Aug. 20
Joey Bart, C, Giants (No. 1 prospect)
Bart delivered in his highly anticipated debut. Giants fans have been hoping to see the second overall pick from the 2018 Draft all season and on Thursday, they got their wish. Bart was hit by a pitch in his first trip to the plate, but in the sixth inning he showed a bit of his offensive skill set as he crushed (exit velocity of 109.5 mph) a double down the line for his first career hit. More »
Aug. 20
Ryan Jeffers, C, Twins (No. 6 prospect)
It took Jeffers just five pitches to notch his first career hit and pick up his first RBI. The 23-year-old, a second-round pick from the 2018 Draft, singled to left in his first professional at-bat. More »
Aug. 19
Sam Haggerty, INF, Mariners
Haggerty made his Major League debut late in the 2019 season, but went hitless in four at-bats and had to sit on that over the offseason. Well, Haggerty was done waiting and collected his first hit in his first at-bat of 2020. More »
Aug. 19
Taylor Jones, 1B/3B/OF, Astros (No. 25 prospect)
Jones, whom the Astros recalled on Tuesday, had to wait a day to pick up his first career hit, but the 26-year-old made sure it was worth the wait. Jones not only came through with his first hit, but also extended the Astros' lead with his first RBI. More »
Aug. 17
Isaac Paredes, 3B/SS, Tigers (No. 6 prospect)
After being recalled from Detroit’s alternate site earlier in the day, Paredes picked up his first Major League hit when he delivered a two-out, two-run single to left field in his second at-bat against White Sox starter Gio González. The 21-year-old infielder started the game at third base and batted eighth in his debut. More »
Aug. 16
Keibert Ruiz, C, Dodgers (No. 3 prospect)
Making his debut behind the dish, Ruiz took the third big league pitch he saw and sent it out of Angel Stadium for his first hit in the Majors. The 22-year-old native of Venezuela compiled 29 long balls through 387 Minor League games, seeing only nine games above Triple-A before his debut. Ruiz became the seventh player in Dodgers history to homer in his first at-bat, and the first since Garey Ingram accomplished the feat in 1994. More »
John Nogowski, 1B, Cardinals
Nogowski, a 34th-round pick from the 2014 Draft, made his Major League debut Sunday and picked up his first hit -- a single up the middle with a 101.2 mph exit velocity -- in his second trip to the plate. More »
Aug. 16
Joe Odom, C, Mariners
Odom, 28, played 455 games in the Minors before getting his call to the Majors. The catcher was promoted on Friday and a couple of days later, he drove in a run against the the Astros for his first career hit. More »
Aug. 15
Vimael Machin, 2B, Athletics
In his first at-bat of the day, the the 26-year-old infielder notched his first Major League hit with a single to left field as part of a 1-for-2 day. Across 451 games in the Minors, the native of Puerto Rico put together a .265/.358/.371 slash line before his callup to the big leagues.
Lewin Díaz, 1B, Marlins (No. 8 prospect)
The 23-year-old left-handed hitter came on in the ninth inning of a deadlocked game against the Braves to pinch-hit for Lewis Brinson and promptly notched a single in his first Major League at-bat. More »
Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals (No. 1 prospect)
Debuting in the first game of the Cardinals' doubleheader, Carlson notched his first hit in the second matchup, lining a double to right field against the White Sox. The 21-year-old switch-hitter came into the big leagues with just 18 games at Triple-A Memphis under his belt and is poised to make an impact. More »
Max Schrock, 2B, Cardinals
In St. Louis's first day back on the field after an extended layoff, the 25-year-old infielder made his debut in the second game of the Cardinals' doubleheader. In his second big league at-bat he notched his first Major League knock, looping a single into the outfield. In 480 Minor League games, Schrock hit .300/.354/.406.
Aug. 14
Luis García, SS, Nationals (No. 2 prospect)
The Nationals have been aggressive with García's development, giving the 2016-17 international signee challenging assignments at every stage of his career. That trend continued this past week when the organization added the 20-year-old infielder to its taxi squad, and then promoted him to the active roster Friday after Starlin Castro suffered a broken wrist earlier in the day. Batting sixth and starting at second base against the Orioles, García, who was the youngest player in the Majors at the time of his debut, reached base via a fielder’s choice and came around to score the first run of his career in the second inning and then notched his first big league hit in the following frame, serving a 1-2 pitch from lefty Tommy Milone into shallow left-center field for a two-out single. More »
Aug. 13
Alec Bohm, 3B, Phillies (No. 1 prospect)
In his first MLB at-bat, Bohm wasted no time and ripped a ground ball down the line for an easy double. The team's top prospect and first-round MLB Draft selection in 2018 (No. 3 overall) is known as an excellent hitter with good power, and with an exit velocity of 103 mph on his first hit, he's off to a good start in proving those reports right.
Aug. 10
Jonathan Araúz, SS, Red Sox
Making his third career start, Jonathan Araúz picked up his first career hit at Fenway Park when he hit a line-drive single to center field in the bottom of the fifth. Araúz, 22, was selected by Boston from the Astros' system in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft. More »
Aug. 9
Daulton Varsho, C, D-backs (No. 3 prospect)
Varsho notched his first Major League knock with a double in the ninth inning against the Padres. It was his fifth big league game and his 10th trip to the plate since his debut. More »
Eddy Alvarez, 2B, Marlins
Alvarez, a former speed skater, made his Major League debut on Aug. 6 and a few days later, collected his first career hit. The 30-year-old certainly had a non-traditional path to the Majors, but was able to accomplish his dream regardless. More »
Aug. 6
Monte Harrison, OF, Marlins (No. 10 prospect)
Harrison is one of the most exciting prospects in baseball because of his athleticism and combination of tools. The 24-year-old certainly put his skills on display Thursday as he robbed Austin Hays of extra bases in the second inning and then used his speed to collect his first career hit in the sixth. More »
Aug. 6
Nick Heath, OF, Royals
Heath, making his first start, picked up his first career hit. The speedy outfielder made his Major League debut on July 30 as a pinch-runner and appeared in two games since then, but had only received one at-bat. Heath found himself in the starting lineup for the first time Thursday and took advantage of the opportunity. More »
Aug. 6
Anderson Tejeda, SS, Rangers (No. 7 prospect)
Tejeda chose a good time to pick up the first and second hits of his career. The 22-year-old drove home a run for his first career hit, then plated two more with his first career homer in his next at-bat. More »
Aug. 5
Mark Mathias, 2B, Brewers
Mathias, whom the Brewers acquired from the Indians in November, made his MLB debut on Aug. 4 and picked up his first career hit the next day. The 26-year-old also scored Milwaukee's only run in a 1-0 win over the White Sox. More »
Aug. 4
Andy Young, INF, D-backs (No. 17 prospect)
A 37th-round pick from the 2016 Draft, Young has shown power throughout his Minor League career and hit 50 homers over the past two seasons. The 26-year-old didn't go yard for his first career hit, but did show off some power as his double had an exit velocity of 107 mph. More »
Aug. 4
Jo Adell, OF, Angels (No. 1 prospect)
Adell didn't waste any time as he picked up his first career hit in his first Major League at-bat. The highly touted prospect showed off his speed as he beat out an infield single. More »
Aug. 2
Nick Madrigal, 2B, White Sox (No. 4 prospect)
Madrigal has long been lauded for his offensive ability and picked up the first of what many suspect will be a plethora of career hits on Sunday. The 23-year-old, who hit .311 across three levels in 2019, showed off his two-strike approach and went the other way for his first career hit. More »
July 31
Chadwick Tromp, C, Giants
Tromp, who signed with the Reds out of Aruba in 2014, signed with the Giants in January, and he notched his first career hit in his second game. Now in his eighth pro season, the 25-year-old slashed .257/.321/.381 in his Minor League career.
July 29
Andrés Giménez, SS, Mets (No. 3 prospect)
Giménez lined one the other way to pick up the first hit of his young career. The 21-year-old signed with the Mets in 2015 and spent the entirety of the 2019 season with Double-A Binghamton, where he hit .250 over 117 games. More »
July 28
Santiago Espinal, 2B/SS, Blue Jays (No. 21 prospect)
In the first full game of his career, and his second start, the 25-year-old infielder singled to left in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays beat the Nationals, 5-1. More »
July 28
Alex Jackson, C, Braves (No. 22 prospect)
Jackson had to wait a while to put his name in the hit column. After going 0-for-13 in 2019, the 2014 sixth-overall Draft pick began this year by striking out in each of his first four plate appearances. He smoked a double down the left-field line for his first hit, then, for good measure, picked up his second hit a few innings later. More »
July 28
Daniel Johnson, OF, Indians (No. 13 prospect)
In his second big league start, Johnson sent a 96 mph fastball from White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease right back through the box at 95 mph for a base hit. The 25-year-old New Mexico State product finished 1-for-2 in the Indians’ 4-3 win. More »
July 27
Tyler Stephenson, C, Reds (No. 3 prospect)
Stephenson joined a couple of short lists as he went deep in his first career at-bat. While few players in all of baseball have homered in their first trip to the plate, just three Reds have ever done it, and Stephenson was the first to do so since Ted Tappe in 1950. More »
July 26
Jake Cronenworth, SS/RHP, Padres (No. 17 prospect)
Why waste any time? Cronenworth picked up his first hit, an RBI double, in his first career at-bat. The Padres two-way prospect entered the game as a pinch runner, in the eighth, then came through at the plate in the ninth. More »
July 26
Jose Marmolejos, 1B, Mariners
After 840 games in the Minors, Marmolejos finally got the call to make his Major League debut. The 27-year-old went 0-for-3 in his debut, but went 1-for-5 in his second game. Unfortunately, Marmolejos got a bit overzealous and was thrown out trying to stretch his first career hit into a double. More »
July 25
Edward Olivares, OF, Padres (No. 19 prospect)
Olivares wasn't in the Opening Day lineup but the 24-year-old out of Venezuela whistled a 109.7 mph double down the left-field line for his first career hit in his first big league game. More »
July 25
William Contreras, C, Braves (No. 9 prospect)
Contreras certainly picked a good time to come up with his first career hit. The 22-year-old catcher came up clutch with a run-scoring double in the 10th inning of the Braves' win over the Mets. More »
July 24
Luis Robert, OF, White Sox (No. 1 prospect)
The first swing of Robert's career resulted in ball that was hit harder (115.8 mph) than all but one by any White Sox player in the entire 2019 season. Baseball's No. 3 overall prospect later laced a doubled off the base of the wall to finish 2-for-4. More »
July 24
Shogo Akiyama, OF, Reds
Akiyama hit .321 over five seasons in Japan, so clearly he knows how to swing the bat. The Reds signed the outfielder to a three-year, $21 million deal in January, and he promptly drove in a run with a base hit in his first career at-bat. More »
July 24
Yoshi Tsutsugo, OF, Rays
After an impressive career in Japan, Tsutsugo signed with the Rays in December and made his debut on Opening Day. The 28-year-old wasted no time making an impact as he came through with a two-run homer. More »
July 24
Evan White, 1B, Mariners (No. 4 prospect)
After inking an extension in the offseason, White had a pretty good idea that he'd be on the Mariners Opening Day roster and in the lineup. So, while it was expected he'd get the opportunity, he still had to produce. It took White a few at-bats to get his first hit, but he did mange to do so on Opening Day as he came through with a single in the ninth inning. More »