List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat

In baseball, a home run is credited to a batter when he hits a fair ball and reaches home safely on the same play, without the benefit of an error.[1] 135 players have hit a home run in their first at bat of a Major League Baseball (MLB) game to date,[A] the most recent being Jasson Dominguez of the New York Yankees on September 1, 2023.[3] George Tebeau and Mike Griffin both hit home runs in their first at bats on April 16, 1887. Both players are recognized as the first player to homer in his first major league at bat because the exact time when each home run was hit is unclear.[4][5]

A man, wearing a dirt-stained Yankees pinstripe uniform and batting helmet with the interlocking "NY" logo, follows through after swinging at a pitch.
A man wearing a Yankees pinstripe uniform swings at a pitch.
Tyler Austin (left) and Aaron Judge (right) are the only teammates to homer in their first major league at bats in the same game and to accomplish this in back-to-back at bats.

Luke Stuart, Walter Mueller, and Johnnie LeMaster hit inside-the-park home runs in their first at bats.[6] Bill Duggleby, Jeremy Hermida, Brandon Crawford, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Daniel Nava hit grand slams in their first at bats—Kouzmanoff and Nava doing so on the first pitch.[7] Ernie Koy and Heinie Mueller were the first players to accomplish the feat in the same game, doing so for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively, in the first inning of Opening Day in 1938.[8][9] This was equalled in 2016 by Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge, who became the only players to achieve the feat as teammates (playing for the New York Yankees) and in back-to-back at bats.[8][10] Two players, Bob Nieman and Keith McDonald, each homered in their second at bat as well.[11][12] Paul Gillespie and John Miller are the only players to hit home runs in both their first and last major league at bats;[13][14] for Miller these were the only two home runs of his MLB career.[15][16] For 23 players, their first at bat home run was the only home run of their major league careers. On the other hand, Gary Gaetti hit more home runs (360) than any other player to hit one in their first at bat.[17][18]

Of the 31 players eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame who have hit a home run in their first major league at bat, two – Earl Averill and Hoyt Wilhelmhave been elected,[16] neither of them on the first ballot.[19] Players are eligible for the Hall of Fame if they have played in at least 10 MLB seasons, and have either been retired for five seasons or deceased for at least six months.[20] These requirements leave 19 players ineligible who are active and 75 players ineligible who did not play in 10 seasons.[B]

Players

Mike Griffin was one of the first two players to hit a home run in their first major league at bat.
Gary Gaetti has the most career home runs among the players who hit a home run in their first MLB at bat.
Hall of Fame pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm homered in his first MLB at bat, and is one of 23 players to never hit another home run in their major league career.
Daniel Nava is one of four players to hit a grand slam in his first MLB at bat, and one of two to hit it on the first pitch.
Adam Wainwright is one of 19 pitchers to homer in their first major league at bat.
Earl Averill is one of only two Hall of Famers to homer in his first major league at bat.
Key
PlayerName of the player
DateDate of the game
TeamThe player's team at the time of the game
NLNational League
ALAmerican League
AAAmerican Association
Career HRThe number of home runs the player hit in his MLB career
BoxBox score with play by play (if available)
*Indicates the player was a pitcher
#Indicates the home run was hit on the first pitch the player faced in his MLB career
Indicates the home run was a grand slam
Indicates the home run was hit as a pinch hitter
&Indicates game in which multiple players homered in their first major league at bat
Indicates the home runs were hit in consecutive at bats
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Player is active
MLB hitters with a home run in their first major league at bat
PlayerDateTeamLeagueCareer HRBoxRef(s)
George TebeauApril 16, 1887Cincinnati Red StockingsAA15[4][21]
Mike GriffinApril 16, 1887Baltimore OriolesAA42[5][22]
Billy Gumbert*June 19, 1890Pittsburgh AlleghenysNL1[23][24]
Joe HarringtonSeptember 10, 1895Boston BeaneatersNL3[25]
Bill Duggleby*April 21, 1898Philadelphia PhilliesNL6[26]
Johnny BatesApril 12, 1906Boston BeaneatersNL25[27][28]
Luke StuartAugust 8, 1921St. Louis BrownsAL1[29][30]
Walter Mueller#May 7, 1922Pittsburgh PiratesNL2[31][32]
Earl AverillApril 16, 1929Cleveland IndiansAL238[33][34]
Clise Dudley*#April 27, 1929Brooklyn RobinsNL3[35][36]
Gordon SladeMay 24, 1930Brooklyn RobinsNL8[37][38]
Eddie Morgan#↑April 14, 1936St. Louis CardinalsNL1[39][40]
Ace ParkerApril 30, 1937Philadelphia AthleticsAL2[41][42]
Gene HassonSeptember 9, 1937Philadelphia AthleticsAL4[43][44]
Ernie KoyApril 19, 1938&Brooklyn DodgersNL36[45][46]
Heinie MuellerApril 19, 1938&Philadelphia PhilliesNL17[45][47]
Bill LeFebvre*#June 10, 1938Boston Red SoxAL1[48][49]
Clyde Vollmer#May 31, 1942Cincinnati RedsNL69[50][51]
Paul GillespieSeptember 11, 1942Chicago CubsNL6[52][53]
Buddy KerrSeptember 8, 1943New York GiantsNL31[54][55]
Hack MillerApril 23, 1944Detroit TigersAL1[56][57]
Whitey LockmanJuly 5, 1945New York GiantsNL114[58][59]
Eddie PellagriniApril 22, 1946Boston Red SoxAL20[60][61]
Dan Bankhead*August 26, 1947Brooklyn DodgersNL1[62][63]
George Vico#April 20, 1948Detroit TigersAL12[64][65]
Les LaytonMay 21, 1948New York GiantsNL2[66][67]
Ed SanickiSeptember 14, 1949Philadelphia PhilliesNL3[68][69]
Ted TappeSeptember 14, 1950Cincinnati RedsNL5[70][71]
Bob NiemanSeptember 14, 1951St. Louis BrownsAL125[72][73]
Hoyt Wilhelm*April 23, 1952New York GiantsNL1[74][75]
Wally MoonApril 13, 1954St. Louis CardinalsNL142[76][77]
Chuck Tanner#↑April 12, 1955Milwaukee BravesNL21[78][79]
Bill WhiteMay 7, 1956New York GiantsNL202[80][81]
Frank ErnagaMay 24, 1957Chicago CubsNL2[82][83]
Don LeppertJune 18, 1961Pittsburgh PiratesNL15[84][85]
Cuno BarraganSeptember 1, 1961Chicago CubsNL1[86][87]
Bob TillmanMay 19, 1962[C]Boston Red SoxAL79[88][91]
John KennedySeptember 5, 1962Washington SenatorsAL32[92][93]
Buster Narum*May 3, 1963[D]Baltimore OriolesAL3[95][96]
Gates BrownJune 19, 1963Detroit TigersAL84[97][98]
Bert Campaneris#July 23, 1964Kansas City AthleticsAL79[99][100]
Bill RomanSeptember 30, 1964Detroit TigersAL1[101][102]
Brant Alyea#↑September 12, 1965Washington SenatorsAL38[103][104]
John MillerSeptember 11, 1966New York YankeesAL2[105][15]
Rick RenickJuly 11, 1968Minnesota TwinsAL20[106][107]
Joe KeoughAugust 7, 1968Oakland AthleticsAL9[108][109]
Gene LamontSeptember 2, 1970Detroit TigersAL4[110][111]
Don Rose*#May 24, 1972California AngelsAL1[112][113]
Benny AyalaAugust 27, 1974New York MetsNL38[114][115]
Reggie SandersSeptember 1, 1974Detroit TigersAL3[116][117]
John Montefusco*September 3, 1974[E]San Francisco GiantsNL4[118][119]
José Sosa*July 30, 1975Houston AstrosNL[F]1[121][122]
Dave McKayAugust 22, 1975Minnesota TwinsAL21[123][124]
Johnnie LeMasterSeptember 2, 1975San Francisco GiantsNL22[125][126]
Alvis WoodsApril 7, 1977Toronto Blue JaysAL35[127][128]
Dave MachemerJune 21, 1978California AngelsAL1[129][130]
Tim WallachSeptember 6, 1980[G]Montreal ExposNL260[131][132]
Gary GaettiSeptember 20, 1981Minnesota TwinsAL360[133][17]
Carmelo MartínezAugust 22, 1983[H]Chicago CubsNL108[134][135]
Mike FitzgeraldSeptember 13, 1983New York MetsNL48[136][137]
Andre DavidJune 29, 1984Minnesota TwinsAL1[138][139]
Will ClarkApril 8, 1986San Francisco GiantsNL284[140][141]
Terry SteinbachSeptember 12, 1986Oakland AthleticsAL162[142][143]
Jay Bell#September 29, 1986Cleveland IndiansAL195[144][145]
Ricky JordanJuly 17, 1988[I]Philadelphia PhilliesNL55[146][147]
Junior Félix#May 4, 1989Toronto Blue JaysAL55[148][149]
José OffermanAugust 19, 1990Los Angeles DodgersNL57[150][151]
Dave Eiland*April 10, 1992San Diego PadresNL1[152][153]
Jim Bullinger*#June 8, 1992Chicago CubsNL4[154][155]
Jay Gainer#May 14, 1993Colorado RockiesNL3[156][157]
Mitch LydenJune 16, 1993Florida MarlinsNL1[158][159]
Garey IngramMay 19, 1994Los Angeles DodgersNL3[160][161]
Jon NunnallyApril 29, 1995Kansas City RoyalsAL42[162][163]
Jermaine DyeMay 17, 1996Atlanta BravesNL325[164][165]
Dustin Hermanson*April 16, 1997Montreal ExposNL2[166][167]
Brad FullmerSeptember 2, 1997Montreal ExposNL114[168][169]
Marlon AndersonSeptember 8, 1998Philadelphia PhilliesNL63[170][171]
Carlos LeeMay 7, 1999Chicago White SoxAL358[172][173]
Guillermo Mota*June 9, 1999Montreal ExposNL2[174][175]
Esteban Yan*#June 4, 2000Tampa Bay Devil RaysAL1[176][177]
Alex CabreraJune 26, 2000Arizona DiamondbacksNL5[178][179]
Keith McDonaldJuly 4, 2000St. Louis CardinalsNL3[180][181]
Chris Richard#July 17, 2000St. Louis CardinalsNL34[182][183]
Gene Stechschulte*#↑April 17, 2001[J]St. Louis CardinalsNL1[185][186]
Marcus Thames#June 10, 2002New York YankeesAL115[187][188]
Miguel OlivoSeptember 15, 2002Chicago White SoxAL145[189][190]
Dave MatrangaJune 27, 2003Houston AstrosNL[F]1[191][192]
Kazuo Matsui#April 6, 2004New York MetsNL32[193][194]
Héctor LunaApril 8, 2004St. Louis CardinalsNL15[195][196]
Greg DobbsSeptember 8, 2004Seattle MarinersAL46[197][198]
Andy Phillips#↑September 26, 2004New York YankeesAL14[199][200]
Mike JacobsAugust 21, 2005New York MetsNL100[201][202]
Jeremy Hermidaℓ↑August 31, 2005Florida MarlinsNL65[203][204]
Mike NapoliMay 4, 2006Los Angeles AngelsAL267[205][206]
Adam Wainwright*#May 24, 2006St. Louis CardinalsNL10[207][208]
Kevin Kouzmanoff#ℓSeptember 2, 2006Cleveland IndiansAL87[209][210]
Charlton JimersonSeptember 4, 2006Houston AstrosNL[F]2[211][212]
Josh FieldsSeptember 18, 2006Chicago White SoxAL34[213][214]
Elijah DukesApril 2, 2007[K]Tampa Bay Devil RaysAL31[215][216]
Mark Worrell*June 5, 2008St. Louis CardinalsNL1[217][218]
Lou MontañezAugust 6, 2008[L]Baltimore OriolesAL5[223][220]
Mark Saccomanno#↑September 8, 2008Houston AstrosNL[F]1[224][225]
Jordan SchaferApril 5, 2009Atlanta BravesNL12[226][227]
Gerardo ParraMay 13, 2009Arizona DiamondbacksNL90[228][229]
John HesterAugust 28, 2009Arizona DiamondbacksNL6[230][231]
Jason HeywardApril 5, 2010Atlanta BravesNL159[232][233]
Luke HughesApril 28, 2010Minnesota TwinsAL8[234][235]
Starlin CastroMay 7, 2010Chicago CubsNL138[236][237]
Daniel Nava#ℓJune 12, 2010Boston Red SoxAL29[238][239]
J. P. Arencibia#August 7, 2010Toronto Blue JaysAL80[240][241]
Brandon GuyerMay 6, 2011Tampa Bay RaysAL32[242][243]
Tommy Milone*#September 3, 2011Washington NationalsNL1[244][245]
Brett PillSeptember 6, 2011San Francisco GiantsNL9[246][247]
Starling Marte‡#July 26, 2012Pittsburgh PiratesNL142[248][249]
Eddy RodríguezAugust 2, 2012San Diego PadresNL1[250][251]
Jurickson ProfarSeptember 2, 2012Texas RangersAL85[252][253]
Jorge SolerAugust 27, 2014Chicago CubsNL158[254][255]
Eddie Rosario‡#May 6, 2015Minnesota TwinsAL154[256][257]
Daniel Norris*August 19, 2015Detroit TigersAL1[258][259]
Willson Contreras‡#↑June 19, 2016Chicago CubsNL128[260][261]
Tyler AustinAugust 13, 2016& New York YankeesAL33[262][263]
Aaron JudgeAugust 13, 2016& New York YankeesAL257[262][264]
Paul DeJong‡↑May 28, 2017St. Louis CardinalsNL115[265][266]
Lane Thomas‡↑April 19, 2019St. Louis CardinalsNL45[267][268]
Zack CollinsJune 21, 2019[M]Chicago White SoxAL11[273][274]
Tyler StephensonJuly 27, 2020Cincinnati RedsNL25[275][276]
Keibert RuizAugust 16, 2020Los Angeles DodgersNL22[277][278]
Sergio AlcántaraSeptember 6, 2020Detroit TigersAL12[279][280]
Akil Baddoo#April 4, 2021Detroit TigersAL20[281][282]
Seth BeerSeptember 10, 2021Arizona DiamondbacksNL2[283][284]
Joe DunandMay 7, 2022Miami MarlinsNL1[285][286]
Christopher Morel‡↑May 17, 2022Chicago CubsNL32[287][288]
James Outman‡↑July 31, 2022Los Angeles DodgersNL13[289][288]
Brett BatyAugust 17, 2022New York MetsNL9[290][291]
Spencer SteerSeptember 2, 2022Cincinnati RedsNL17[292][293]
Josh JungSeptember 9, 2022Texas RangersAL25[294][295]
Davis SchneiderAugust 4, 2023Toronto Blue JaysAL6[296][297]
Weston WilsonAugust 9, 2023Philadelphia PhilliesNL1[298][299]
Jasson DominguezSeptember 1, 2023New York YankeesAL4[300][301]

See also

Notes

References

General

  • "Home Run in First At-Bat". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved June 14, 2020. (George Tebeau and Mike Griffin are listed in the "Fast Facts" section near the bottom. This list omits Billy Gumbert.)
  • Eagle, Ed (July 27, 2020). "Players with home run in first at-bat". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 14, 2020. (This list omits George Tebeau, Mike Griffin, and Billy Gumbert.)
  • "Home Run With First Pitch Ever". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  • Adler, David (February 6, 2018). "Players who homered on first career pitch". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  • "First At-Bat Homers". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. May 6, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2019. (This list is current up to May 6, 2015. It misspells Billy Gumbert's name as "Gumpert".)

Specific