Nationals Outfielder Ties Rare MLB Record

Joey Wiemer's historic start to the 2026 season has the league taking notice.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:23pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting the fractured, geometric forms of a baseball player's batting stance and swing, rendered in a bold color palette that captures the dynamic energy of the sport.Wiemer's record-tying start has the baseball world taking notice of the young Nationals outfielder's explosive potential.Washington Today

Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer has opened the 2026 MLB season by reaching base safely in his first 10 plate appearances, tying a record that had stood untouched since 2002. The last player to accomplish this feat was Carlos Delgado. Wiemer's hot start has been built on loud, controlled contact, with an average exit velocity over 100 mph and a hard-hit rate well above league norms.

Why it matters

Wiemer's record-tying start is unexpected, as the 27-year-old has not yet established himself as an elite MLB hitter. The list of players to open a season this way is short and filled with some of the game's best, raising questions about whether this could be the start of a breakout campaign for Wiemer.

The details

Through his first 10 plate appearances, Wiemer went a perfect 8-for-8 with two walks, consistently getting on base and forcing opposing pitchers to adjust. His streak finally ended in his 11th plate appearance when he grounded out against Phillies starter Taijuan Walker. Wiemer's strong start is not just about reaching base, but about the quality of his contact, as his average exit velocity has pushed past 100 mph with a hard-hit rate well above league norms for this stage of the season.

  • Wiemer opened the 2026 season by reaching base safely in his first 10 plate appearances.
  • The last player to accomplish this feat was Carlos Delgado in 2002.

The players

Joey Wiemer

A 27-year-old outfielder for the Washington Nationals who has flashed tools and power in his MLB career, but has not yet shown this kind of sustained, immediate impact.

Carlos Delgado

A former MLB first baseman who reached base safely in his first 10 plate appearances to open the 2002 season, a feat that had not been matched until Wiemer's historic start.

Taijuan Walker

The Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher who finally ended Wiemer's record-tying streak in the outfielder's 11th plate appearance.

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What’s next

As Wiemer looks to build on his historic start, all eyes will be on whether he can sustain this level of production and prove that this is the beginning of a true breakout campaign.

The takeaway

Wiemer's record-tying start has placed him in rare company, joining elite hitters like Carlos Delgado who have opened a season in this fashion. While it's still early, this stretch has forced the league to take notice and has raised questions about whether Wiemer is poised for a breakout year after previously struggling to find consistency at the MLB level.