Mejia's historic hitting streak reaches 40
Indians' No. 6 prospect becomes 16th Minor Leaguer with 40-game streak
Indians prospect Francisco Mejia became just the 16th player in Minor League Baseball history to hit in 40 consecutive games when he singled in his third at-bat for Class A Lynchburg at Winston-Salem on Thursday night. Mejia, ranked No. 6 on the Indians' Top 30 Prospects list, grounded out in his first at-bat and struck out in his second trip to the plate.
On an 0-1 count, Mejia chopped a two-hopper in front of the mound. Dash pitcher Zach Thompson fielded it cleanly and threw to first, but Mejia and was ruled to have beaten the throw on a bang-bang play to extend his streak, which is the longest in the Minors since James McOwen hit in 45 straight for High Desert in 2009.
Entering Thursday's game, Mejia had posted a .395/.419/.637 slash line, with 10 doubles, two triples, eight homers and 36 RBIs during his streak, which began over two months ago, on May 27.
Longest Minor League hitting streaks
| Player | Games | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wilhoit | 69 | 1919 |
| Joe DiMaggio | 61 | 1933 |
| Roman Mejias | 55 | 1954 |
| Otto Pahlman | 50 | 1922 |
| Jack Ness | 49 | 1915 |
| Harry Chozen | 49 | 1945 |
| James McOwen | 45 | 2009 |
| Brandon Watson | 43 | 2007 |
| Eddie Marshall | 43 | 1935 |
| Orlando Moreno | 43 | 1947 |
| Howie Bedell | 43 | 1961 |
| Jack Lelivelt | 42 | 1912 |
| Herbert Chapman | 42 | 1950 |
| Francisco Mejia | 40 | 2016 |
| Ducky Detweiler | 40 | 1942 |
| Frosty Kennedy | 40 | 1953 |
The MiLB hit streak record is 69, set by Joe Wilhoit in 1919. Joe DiMaggio, whose big league record hit streak of 56 games is being celebrated for its 75th anniversary this season, had a 61-game Minor League hit streak in 1933, second-longest all-time.
• Play Beat the Streak
Perhaps most impressive in Mejia's current run is how he's hurdled major obstacles that could've potentially led to an hitless night.
Mejia was promoted to Lynchburg 24 games into the streak, and he has had three layoffs of four days or more during his incredible run: four days due to the Midwest League All-Star Game on June 21, in which he fittingly registered a hit; four days due to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 10, in which he also recorded a hit; and he was sidelined from July 18-22 while dealing with the stomach flu. Also adding to the marvel, Mejia has been his team's catcher in 31 of the 39 games, while serving as the designated hitter in the others.
Here is a look at how Mejia reached via hit over the past two months to set the longest streak of 2016 in pro baseball:
40 -- July 28: Single in third at-bat (6th inning) at Winston-Salem
39 -- July 26: Single in first at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Wilmington
38 -- July 25: Single first at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Wilmington
37 -- July 23: Grand slam in first at-bat (1st inning) vs. Carolina
36 -- July 17: Single in first at-bat (1st inning) at Wilmington
35 -- July 16: Single in first at-bat (2nd inning) at Wilmington
34 -- July 13: Single in third at-bat (6th inning) at Carolina
33 -- July 8: Single in fourth at-bat (7th inning) vs. Salem
32 -- July 6: Single in second at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Frederick
31 -- July 5: RBI single in fourth at-bat (7th inning) vs. Frederick
30 -- July 4: Single in second at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Frederick
29 -- July 3: Single in second at-bat (4th inning) vs. Carolina
28 -- July 2: Triple in third and final at-bat (6th inning) of at Carolina
27 -- July 1: Double in first at-bat (2nd inning) at Carolina
26 -- June 30: Double in first at-bat (2nd inning) at Carolina
25 -- June 29: Single in first at-bat (2nd inning) at Wilmington (first game for Lynchburg)
24 -- June 26: Single in first at-bat (3rd inning) vs. Great Lakes
23 -- June 25: Single in first at-bat (3rd inning) vs. Great Lakes
22 -- June 24: Single in first at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Great Lakes
21 -- June 19: Single in third at-bat (7th inning) at South Bend
20 -- June 18: Single in third at-bat (6th inning) at South Bend
19 -- June 17: Single in second at-bat (4th inning) at South Bend
18 -- June 16: Double in third at-bat (6th inning) at South Bend
17 -- June 15: Single in first at-bat (2nd inning) at Bowling Green
16 -- June 15: Double in first at-bat (1st inning) at Bowling Green.
15 -- June 13: Two-run homer in first at-bat (1st inning) at Bowling Green
14 -- June 12: Single in fourth and final at-bat (7th inning) vs. Great Lakes
13 -- June 11: Home run in first at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Great Lakes
12 -- June 10: Home run in first at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Great Lakes
11 -- June 9: Single in first at-bat (1st inning) vs. Lansing
10 -- June 8: Home run in second at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Lansing
9 -- June 7: Home run in first at-bat (1st inning) vs. Lansing
8 -- June 5: Single in fourth at-bat (7th inning) at Great Lakes
7 -- June 4: Single in second at-bat (3rd inning) at Great Lakes
6 -- June 3: Single in first at-bat (2nd inning) at Great Lakes
5 -- June 2: Single in first at-bat (1st inning) vs. Bowling Green
4 -- June 1: Single in third at-bat (6th inning) vs. Bowling Green
3 -- May 29: Single in first and only at-bat (2nd inning) vs. Fort Wayne
2 -- May 28: Triple in first at-bat (1st inning) vs. Fort Wayne
1 -- May 27: Single in third at-bat (6th inning) vs. Fort Wayne
Daniel Kramer is a reporter for MLB.com based in Denver. Follow him on Twitter at @DKramer_. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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