Several Major League Baseball players achieved rare statistical feats during the week of April 24-30, 2026. Highlights included a 20-year-old's first career home run on his birthday and record-breaking pitch speeds. These accomplishments span home runs, strikeouts, and hitting streaks.
Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday by playing in an MLB game on Friday, April 25, crushing his first career home run. He became the fourth player in MLB history to homer on his birthday at age 20 or younger, joining Aramis Ramirez in 1998, Buddy Lewis in 1936, and Fred Carroll in 1884, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Griffin also recorded three hits that day, the youngest such performance on a birthday since at least 1900, and marked the 25th player to hit a first career homer on his birthday, the youngest overall per Elias. He finished with three hits in the game. Jacob Misiorowski struck out Oneil Cruz with a 102.7 mph pitch on Saturday, the fastest strikeout pitch by a starter since tracking began in 2008. He tallied eight strikeouts at 100.0+ mph, second-most in a game under tracking behind Hunter Greene's nine on September 17, 2022. Four reached 101.0+ mph and two hit 102.0+ mph, tying records set by Greene. Mike Trout hit his 797th career extra-base hit on Sunday, breaking Garret Anderson's Angels franchise record. Ben Rice and Aaron Judge each reached 10 home runs before the Yankees' 30th game, echoing 1956's Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra, and also hit the mark for 10 homers and 20 walks early in the season like 2000's Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds. Munetaka Murakami extended his streak of 12 straight extra-base hits as home runs in his first 29 MLB games, topping Dae-ho Lee's 10 from 2016. Elly De La Cruz notched his 10th homer and eight stolen bases before his team's 30th game, joining Vladimir Guerrero and others since 1898. Shohei Ohtani posted a 0.60 ERA in his fifth start Tuesday, fifth-lowest for Dodgers pitchers in first five starts since 1912. Nick Kurtz drew walks in 19 straight games through Thursday, tying Ted Williams. Ildemaro Vargas held a 26-game hitting streak entering Friday, third-longest to open a season in 90 years. Matt Olson reached 814 consecutive games entering Friday, 11th in MLB history.
