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MLB: Five Hilariously Absurd Stats to Brighten Your Day

By Lucas Friedman

CHICAGO - CIRCA 1996: Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants bats during an MLB game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Bonds played for 22 seasons with 2 different teams, was a 14-time All-Star and was a 7-time National League MVP. (Photo by SPX/Ron Vesely Photography via Getty Images)
CHICAGO - CIRCA 1996: Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants bats during an MLB game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Bonds played for 22 seasons with 2 different teams, was a 14-time All-Star and was a 7-time National League MVP. (Photo by SPX/Ron Vesely Photography via Getty Images) /
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(Photo credit should read TOM MIHALEK/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo credit should read TOM MIHALEK/AFP via Getty Images) /

Five Hilariously Absurd Stats to Brighten Your Day

Fernando Tatís’ 8-RBI inning

Fernando Tatís Jr. is one of the most exciting young players in the game today. The 21-year-old phenom is an explosive five-tool talent with MVP-level potential. He was incredible in his injury-shortened rookie season in 2019, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting despite only playing 84 games.

While Tatís Jr. appears primed to create statistical absurdities of his own, it is his father who owns a spot on this list. Fernando Tatís Sr. was an average player throughout his 11-year career across five teams. His best season was undoubtedly in 1999 with the Cardinals, where he hit 34 HRs and 107 RBIs. However, his legacy was cemented in one inning during that season.

On April 23rd, 1999, hit two grand slams in the third inning against the Dodgers. He became the only player to ever record 8 RBIs in one inning. The craziest part? They were both off the same pitcher, Chan Ho Park.

While the lifespan of this statistic only spans one inning, what makes it so impressive is the near impossibility of it being repeated. Throughout MLB history, only 14 players have ever hit two grand slams in one game, not to mention a single inning.

According to Andrew Simon and Tom Tango of MLB.com, the odds of this crazy scenario are roughly 12 million to one. Furthermore, on record, only nine players have ever had a second plate appearance with the base-loaded following a slam earlier in the same inning. Throughout over 3.9 million innings of major league baseball, only eight other players have even had the opportunity to do what Tatís did in 1999.

At first glance, Tatís’ feat is certainly amazing. However, when you dig a little bit deeper, it becomes clear how absurd it really was. If his son manages to repeat his feat, the baseball world might explode. Even if anybody else accomplishes this feat, it will certainly not be off the same pitcher. Sorry Chan Ho Park, you will forever be alone on that one.

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