Alek Thomas' Epic 14-Pitch At-Bat Makes Playoff History With Jaw-Dropping Homer

Photo: Instagram/Alek Thomas

In a historic moment during Game 1 of the National League Division Series, D-backs center fielder Alek Thomas showcased an incredible display of resilience and determination.

Facing off against Dodgers' right-hander Michael Grove, Thomas found himself in a challenging 1-2 count in the top of the seventh inning. What followed was a battle at the plate that etched itself into postseason history.

Remarkably, Thomas proceeded to foul off the next 10 pitches, refusing to give in to Grove's relentless pitches. After patiently watching a curveball in the dirt for ball two, Thomas capitalized on the 14th pitch of the at-bat, a belt-high 2-2 slider.

Photo: Instagram/Alek Thomas

With incredible precision, he connected with the pitch, sending it soaring into the right-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium. The resounding home run not only extended the D-backs' lead to 10-0 but also prompted some fans to head for the exits.

Thomas later reflected on the extraordinary at-bat, describing it as "probably the longest at-bat ever of my life" and relishing the sweet conclusion of a home run. In making history, Thomas's 14-pitch at-bat became the longest at-bat to culminate in a postseason home run since pitch counts began to be tracked in 1988.


It surpassed Jayson Werth's 13-pitch walk-off homer against Lance Lynn during the 2012 NLDS. Acknowledging the challenging nature of the at-bat, Thomas humbly noted that approximately half of those pitches weren't even strikes.

However, he emphasized the importance of persevering and battling through such moments in the game.

Ultimately, he seized the opportunity when it presented itself and sent the ball soaring an impressive 427 feet, marking the longest of the D-backs' four home runs against Dodgers pitching that memorable Saturday night.

Read Next: Clayton Kershaw's Shocking Postseason Struggle: Dodgers Fall In Game 1

Source: MLB

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