​NEW YORK — Tyler Tolbert flashed a grin and declared he’d give himself until midnight to savor one of the most historic sequences a batter has ever enjoyed, a stretch that likely will stand the test of time in the record books. The Kansas City Royals outfielder, known mainly for his glove work and base running, matched a major league mark by hitting in 12 consecutive plate appearances, reaching the milestone with an infield single against the New York Mets as part of a wild 16-12 comeback win. Batting ninth, the right fielder contributed a two-run homer in the second inning and added singles in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. Tolbert’s final three hits came infielders.
Tolbert tied the record set by Chicago’s Johnny Kling in 1902 and later equaled by Walt Dropo of the Detroit Tigers in 1952. The bat Tolbert used will be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. “I’m truly lost for words, honestly,” Tolbert said. “I don’t know. It hasn’t really hit me, to be honest.”
With a chance to break the mark, Tolbert finally was retired in the ninth on a fly ball to right against A.J. Minter to finish 5-for-6. “He’s a good pitcher and broke the streak,” Tolbert noted. “All I can do is just smile. I’m just grateful for the journey and opportunity.”
The announced crowd of 32,734 offered Tolbert a standing ovation, and his teammates applauded from the top step of the dugout. After the game, the Royals toasted Tolbert with Champagne in the visiting clubhouse. “It’s nice — I guess everybody’s kind of in tune, knowing what was happening,” Tolbert said. “I appreciated the fans supporting me and cheering me on, trying to get the next one. When I was on deck, they were like, ‘Go for another one. Go for another one.’”
“More importantly, just my teammates, man, they were locked in,” Tolbert added. “Just awesome. Look in the dugout and everybody’s smiling. Brings a smile to my face, too.”
Tolbert, listed at 5-foot-10, was selected by the Royals in the 13th round of the 2019 draft and posted at least 48 stolen bases in every minor league season from 2021 through 2025 before making his major league debut on March 31, 2025. “I just couldn’t be more proud of him, the way he competes,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “His effort, energy, attitude — he lifts everybody up every day. And for him to have those individual accolades is really special. The way the guys celebrated him right there was really cool.”
Tolbert had been a career .247 hitter with one homer, seven RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 91 big‑league games, but he shined in that moment, following a 2-for-2 performance against Philadelphia before being lifted for a pinch hitter. He went on to start at shortstop and went 5-for-5 with a homer, his first of the season. “He’s a sparkplug,” teammate Nick Loftin said.