Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story finished April with 17 extra-base hits, joining Joe DiMaggio (23 in May 1936) and Albert Pujols (17 in April 2001) as the only players since 1900 to record 17 or more extra-base hits during the first calendar month of their respective careers, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN.com).
One of the biggest surprises early in the season, the 23-year-old Story was never viewed as a top-notch prospect, and he might not have even made the big-league roster out of spring training if not for Jose Reyes’ absence in the wake of a domestic violence allegation.
Nonetheless, Story made history by hitting seven home runs in the first six games of his career, with six of those long balls coming in the first four games.
He’s slowed down considerably since the season’s first week, yet still managed to break Pujols’ National League record of eight home runs by a rookie in April.
What’s more, Story tied the MLB rookie record of 10 home runs in April, which was originally set by Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu in 2014.
It seems Story has emerged from a mid-April slump, as he tallied two homers, a triple and a double—along with six RBI, four runs and two walks—over the final three games of the month.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether he’s the second coming of former Troy Tulowitzki or merely a short-lived rookie sensation.
Story’s 37 strikeouts in 92 at-bats might hint at the latter, but there’s still no denying that he possesses rare power for a middle infielder.
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