Brandon Belt, who holds the record for most foul balls since 1988, apologized for his 13 minute, 21 pitch at bat with 16 foul balls, stating: "When I'm in the field I hate it when a batter keeps fouling pitches off," Belt said after the game. "I'm like 'Dude, just put it in play. It's not that hard. Let's go.' So I basically had to apologize to everybody after that." .....
https://www.mlb.com/news/longest-mlb-at-bats-on-record-c273475240
https://www.mlb.com/news/longest-mlb-at-bats-on-record-c273475240
Quote:
Here are the longest MLB at-bats on record
Belt's 21-pitch battle tops all regular-season ABs since 1988
April 21st, 2024
Chad Thornburg and Matt Kelly @mattkellyMLB
...Giants first baseman Brandon Belt made history on April 22, 2018 -- three years ago Friday -- when he worked a 21-pitch at-bat during San Francisco's 4-2 win over the Angels in Anaheim. Belt hit 16 foul balls in the first-inning battle against Jaime Barria that ended in a fly ball to right field.
Belt's 21-pitch at-bat is the longest on record since 1988, as far back as the data is available, but his regular-season feat was surpassed in a Spring Training game by the Mets' Luis Guillorme. The utility player worked a 22-pitch walk on March 14, 2021, against Cardinals right-hander Jordan Hicks, who was seeing his first game action in over a year.
Below is a look at Belt and the other at-bats near the top of the list:
1. Brandon Belt, 1B, SF vs. Jaime Barria, RHP, LAA
April 22, 2018: 21 pitches, flyout
Belt wound up apologizing after his headline-grabbing showdown with Barria, because after years of standing at first base while opposing hitters fouled off pitch after pitch, he treated the Angels' fielders (and everyone in attendance) to a 13-minute affair.
"When I'm in the field I hate it when a batter keeps fouling pitches off," Belt said after the game. "I'm like 'Dude, just put it in play. It's not that hard. Let's go.' So I basically had to apologize to everybody after that." .....