Hitting three home runs in a game is a remarkable accomplishment, especially for young shortstops. It’s frequently compared to the rarity of a no-hitter, triple plays or even four home run games. However, what’s rare are the youngest shortstops who have homered three times in a game. Only five players have done it, with one of them doing it twice. Plus, another player made history for shortstops, too. Below is a look at each player and their performances that put them on the map.
Youngest Shortstops 3 Home Run Games
Corey Seager
Age-Day: 22-037
Corey Seager had his first three-homer game to help the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. He entered the game leading the Dodgers in home runs as he extended his lead with his second multi-homer game of the season. Seager went on to win the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
Age-Day: 22-174
Fans were dismayed when Fernando Tatis Jr. didn’t participate in the 2021 home run derby. Instead, he staged his version. The San Diego Padres shortstop slugged three home runs in his first three at-bats, all in the first four innings against Arizona Diamondbacks. He finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored. Tatis Jr. is the only Padre to hit three in the first four innings of a game.
Corey Seager
Age-Day: 23-054
Seager recorded his second three-homer game against the New York Mets. Seager added a double to fill out his night too. With six RBI, it ended up being the seventh multi-hit game in his last ten games. In that span, he was 17-for-41 (.415) with four home runs, five doubles, 11 runs scored and 13 RBI. Seager joined Duke Snider, Shawn Green and Adrián González as the only players in Dodger history with more than one three-homer game.
José Reyes
Age-Day: 23-065
Jose Reyes hit three home runs for the Mets in an 11-4 loss. Reyes hit a leadoff home run against Philadelphia Phillies starter Randy Wolf. Then, Reyes repeated his earlier performance with his second homer in the third inning. He completed the hat trick in the eighth inning against Brain Sanches. Reyes is one of nine former Mets players who hit three in a game.
Tony Lazzeri
Age-Day: 23-184
Tony Lazzeri was the first player of the New York Yankees to hit three home runs in a game. Lazzeri did so in 1927, with the third helping the Yankees send it to extras. He hit it off Sarge Connally to deep right field in the bottom of the ninth with one on and one out. The Yankees team that season was nicknamed “Murder’s Row” as it’s considered the greatest team in MLB history. It’s also the same season where Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs.
Bo Bichette
Age-Day: 24-184
Bo Bichette continued to make his mark in the majors. Not only did he hit three home runs in a doubleheader, but Bichette became the first AL shortstop with six-plus hits and three home runs in a single day. He joins teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the only Toronto Blue Jays batters with three home runs in a game in 2022.
Ernie Banks
Age-Day: 24-185
Hall of Famer and Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks hit three homers in a single game on August 4, 1955. It was his age-24 season where Banks hit 44 home runs, the first of five times where he hit 40 or more. Banks completed the feat three more times in 1957, 1962 and 1963. He became the third player with four three-homer games in MLB history.
Main Photo
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Players mentioned:
Corey Seager, Fernando Tatis Jr., Duke Snider, Shawn Green, Adrián González, José Reyes, Randy Wolf, Tony Lazzeri, Sarge Connally, Babe Ruth, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernie Banks
