MLB: Giants' Brandon Belt sets new record for longest at-bat facing up to an incredible 21 pitches

Alex Broun 01:13 24/04/2018
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  • San Francisco's Brandon Belt has set a new record for the longest at bat in MLB history.

    San Francisco Giant’s Brandon Belt has set an unlikely record that will take some topping – the longest at bat in MLB history.

    Well at least since accurate pitches have been recorded since 1988.

    In Sunday’s first inning, Belt saw 21 pitches from the Los Angeles Angels’ Jaime Barria, who needed a good rest after throwing 49 pitches (and still allowing no runs) in the inning.

    In contrast, Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto retired the Angels in the first inning on just 19 pitches.

    As just the second batter up in the game, with a runner on first and no one out, Belt fouled off 16 pitches — including 10 in a row — before flying out in an at-bat that lasted 12 minutes and 45 seconds.

    “I wasn’t going to give it up and the pitcher wasn’t either,” Belt said afterwards.

    “It made for a good battle. If it helped get me a little bit locked in for later in the game, it was worth it.”

    Major League Baseball have confirmed that the 21 pitches are the most pitches in an at-bat ever, and broke the record previously held by then-Houston Astros infielder Ricky Gutierrez, who had a 20-pitch at-bat against then-Cleveland Indians right-hander Bartolo Colon on June 26, 1998.

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