From UAB to Cooperstown: Tyler Tolbert ties MLB record with 12 consecutive hits

Tyler Tolbert could not buy a hit in his first college season. He batted .151 as a freshman at UAB. Now his bat is headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tolbert, the former Blazers shortstop from Hewitt-Trussville, tied the all-time Major League Baseball record by recording a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances for the Kansas City Royals over three games against the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. He became the first player since Roberto Clemente in 1970 to produce back-to-back five-hit games, and he joined Johnny Kling (1902) and Walt Dropo (1952) as the only players in MLB history to do it in 12 consecutive plate appearances — no walks, no hit-by-pitches, a hit every time up.

Two other players, Pinky Higgins (1938) and Jose Miranda (2024), also recorded hits in 12 consecutive at-bats but had walks or hit-by-pitches mixed into their plate appearances.

The streak started Saturday against the Phillies when Tolbert went 2-for-2 before being pulled from the game. On Monday he went 5-for-5 against Philadelphia, launching his first home run of the season. On Tuesday at Citi Field against the Mets, five more consecutive hits — including a two-run homer — pushed the streak to 12. His 11th and 12th were infield singles where he beat out throws that would have retired a slower runner. He finished the night 5-for-6, flying out to right field against Mets reliever A.J. Minter in the ninth to end it.

He had shattered the Royals’ franchise record of eight consecutive hits, and the Hall of Fame had already requested his bat.

Tolbert played three seasons for UAB under head coach Brian Shoop from 2017 to 2019, making 131 starts. He arrived with speed and not much else at the plate. By his junior year he hit .283 with 41 stolen bases and 76 career steals as a Blazer. Shoop described his speed as “world-class.” He was named Alabama’s Class 7A Hitter of the Year coming out of Hewitt-Trussville.

The Royals took him in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, 379th overall, alongside UAB teammate Graham Ashcraft. Tolbert left school a year early, forgoing his senior season to sign for $125,000. Scouts gave him a 70-grade run tool and a 40-grade bat.

The speed carried him through the minors. Playing for the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits in 2022, he stole 60 consecutive bases without being caught. At Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2023, his offense caught up to the rest of his game — enough to earn the George Brett Hitter of the Year award before his promotion.

Tolbert reached the majors in 2025 as a utility player and pinch-running specialist. Entering July 2026, he was hitting .200 in limited action. Then injuries opened a spot in the starting lineup, and the kid who hit .151 as a freshman at UAB put together the hottest three-game stretch in 74 years.

Through July 7, Tolbert is batting .396 on the season with 19 hits, two home runs and 10 stolen bases in 30 games. His 2026 OPS is .976. The streak raised his career MLB batting average from .247 to .337.

The 40-grade bat turned out to be plenty.