In an impressive display of power, Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers smashed his 29th home run of the season during their 9–3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. This first-inning homer, off pitcher Andre Pallante, propelled the seven-year veteran into exclusive company.
Adames’ deep shot on Monday marked his fifth consecutive game with a home run, tying a Brewers record set by Jeromy Burnitz and Eric Thames. Furthermore, this streak ties the record for most consecutive games with a home run by a shortstop since 1900, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, placing Adames alongside baseball greats like Alex Rodríguez, Corey Seager, and Trea Turner.
Additionally, Adames’ home run was his 13th three-run homer of the season, a feat only achieved by Ken Griffey Jr. in MLB history, according to the Associated Press. Sammy Sosa, Tino Martinez, and Roy Campanella each had 12 three-run homers in a single season.
Reflecting on his achievement, Adames expressed, “It’s an honor, just to be right next to a legend and an icon like him.” Brewers manager Pat Murphy humorously noted that it’s almost surprising when Adames doesn’t hit a home run with two runners on base this season.
If Adames manages to hit home runs in the next three games, he will join Griffey as one of three players to achieve the rare feat of hitting homers in eight consecutive games.
Interestingly, Adames hit his 29th home run on his 29th birthday, adding a special touch to his remarkable performance this season.
Currently batting .255 with an .812 OPS, Adames has been a key player for the NL Central-leading Brewers, who enjoy a comfortable 9 1/2 game lead over the Chicago Cubs with an impressive 81–57 record. Having started all 138 games at shortstop, Adames is on track to become the fifth player in franchise history to start every game in a season if he maintains this streak for the remaining 24 games.
With these remarkable achievements under his belt, Adames is poised to enter free agency for the first time after the season, carrying a wealth of accomplishments and milestones.