Josh Hamilton is looking for a new contract and doing everything in his power to get it.
What better way to grab the attention of the entire baseball world than to smack four home runs?
That’s just what he did on Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles, en route to this absurd stat line:
5-for-5, 4 HR, 1 2B, 4 R, 8 RBI, 18 TB
He is the 16th player in MLB history to complete the feat of hitting four dingers, and somehow every single one of Hamilton’s were two-run shots. By some strange coincidence, Elvis Andrus was on base for all four of them.
His 18 total bases is an AL record, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:
Hamilton's 18 total bases an AL record. Shawn Green has major-league record with 19 on May 23, 2002.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 9, 2012
Carlos Delgado accomplished the last four-home-run game back in September 2003. To put this incredible feat into perspective, only 16 players have hit four homers in one game, while 21 pitchers have pitched a perfect game.
This historic night is just one example of why Hamilton is the early front-runner for MVP of the American League. Not only does his team sport the best record in the majors, but he also leads the team in virtually every important offensive category.
You pick an offensive category, and Hamilton is leading in it for the Rangers a.k.a the team with the best team batting average in the majors. Hamilton is dominating everything, from batting average (.406), to RBI (36), to homers (14), to OPS (1.298). He now leads the entire American League in those categories as well.
Throw in another strong season in the field, and you have the obvious pick for league MVP through the first 30 games of the season.
Remember all of the money Albert Pujols got this offseason? Hamilton was one RBI shy of equaling his entire season’s output in one nine-inning game. Insanity.
Pay the man, Texas. Hamilton is well on his way to a second-career MVP award.
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