Minnesota Twins third baseman Jose Miranda made history on Saturday by achieving a hit in 12 consecutive at-bats, tying a Major League Baseball record. This remarkable feat places Miranda as the fourth player in MLB history to accomplish such a streak.
During the game, Miranda, 26, secured singles in the second and fourth innings against Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown, solidifying his place alongside baseball legends. The previous players who achieved this record are Johnny Kling of the Chicago Cubs (1902), Pinky Higgins of the Boston Red Sox (1938), and Walt Dropo of the Detroit Tigers (1952).
José Miranda ties the Major League record with a hit in 12 straight at-bats!
This is only the 4th time that this milestone has been reached in MLB history, and the first time since 1952! 🤯
(via @BallySportsNOR)pic.twitter.com/70dxzxV5Lw
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2024
Despite his incredible achievement, Miranda narrowly missed breaking the MLB record for the longest consecutive hit streak, set at 17 by Piggy Ward in 1893. However, his outstanding performance made him the player with the longest hit streak since MLB expanded in 1961. Notable players who achieved similar feats include Boston’s Dustin Pedroia in 2016 and Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees in 2002.
During his first plate appearance on Saturday, Miranda was hit by a pitch, extending his streak to 13 consecutive plate appearances in which he reached base. This set a new Twins franchise record and was the longest streak since Kevin Youkilis achieved a similar feat for the Red Sox in 2009.
Unfortunately, Miranda’s streak came to an end in the sixth inning when he flied out to left-center field. Despite this, the crowd at Target Field gave him a well-deserved ovation for his remarkable achievement.
“All the hard work pays off, and moments like this are truly special,” Miranda expressed to Bally Sports North’s Audra Martin after the game. “It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of history like this.”
On the previous night, Miranda set the stage for his record-breaking performance by going 4-for-4 with a home run. This accomplishment not only broke the Twins’ franchise record but also surpassed marks set by Mickey Hatcher, Todd Walker, and Hall of Famer Tony Oliva.
Notable recent achievers of hitting in 10 straight at-bats include Corey Dickerson for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022.
Currently, Miranda boasts a batting average of .328 with a .901 OPS, 20 doubles, nine home runs, and 43 RBI in 262 plate appearances for the season.
Miranda’s historic achievement occurred during a 9–3 victory for the Twins over the Astros.