Nationals' Joey Wiemer grounds out with chance at immortality

Unsung player makes first out on 11th plate appearance this season.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:50am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball player's batting motion from multiple angles, with sharp planes of color representing the Nationals and Phillies uniforms.A cubist interpretation of a Nationals player's swing captures the raw energy and motion of baseball.Chicago Today

On his 11th trip to the plate in 2026, Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer had a shot at matching a 75-year-old record by reaching base safely in his first 11 plate appearances of the season. However, Wiemer grounded out in the fifth inning, settling for a shared perpetuity record.

Why it matters

Wiemer, an unsung prospect who was designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins last offseason, has made a strong early impression with the Nationals, reaching base safely in his first 10 plate appearances and hitting a home run in the opening two games of the season. His performance has helped the Nationals get off to a 3-1 start, while the struggling Phillies have dropped to 1-3 on their season-opening homestand.

The details

In the fifth inning of Monday's 13-2 win over the Phillies, Wiemer stepped up with the Nationals leading 7-0. Phillies starter Taijuan Walker threw Wiemer a variety of off-speed pitches, and Wiemer grounded back to the pitcher for the first out of the inning, ending his bid to match Carlos Delgado's 75-year-old record of reaching base safely in 11 consecutive plate appearances to start a season.

  • Wiemer reached base safely in his first 10 plate appearances of the 2026 season.
  • Wiemer grounded out in the fifth inning of the Nationals' 13-2 win over the Phillies on March 31, 2026.

The players

Joey Wiemer

A 27-year-old outfielder for the Washington Nationals who was designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins last offseason. Wiemer has made a strong early impression with the Nationals, reaching base safely in his first 10 plate appearances and hitting a home run in the opening two games of the season.

Taijuan Walker

The starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, who faced Wiemer in the fifth inning of Monday's game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

Wiemer's early-season performance has been a bright spot for the Nationals, who are off to a strong 3-1 start, while the Phillies have struggled out of the gate at 1-3. Wiemer's ability to reach base safely in his first 10 plate appearances and hit a home run in the opening two games has helped establish him as an unsung prospect who is making a name for himself in the majors.