Detroit Tigers centerfielder Parker Meadows accomplished something on Thursday night that’s only been done one other time in MLB history, 69 years ago, by the “greatest hitter that ever lived,” Hall of Famer Ted Williams.
The Tigers selected the younger brother of free agent outfielder Austin Meadows in the second round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft, and his game-winning grand slam against the San Diego Padres is the biggest highlight of his career thus far.
The 24-year-old played in the minors for four-plus years (there was no MiLB season in 2020) before making his big-league debut on Aug. 21, 2023.
Parker struggled in his first taste of the majors, though, recording three home runs and 13 RBI with a .232/.331/.368 slash line across 125 at-bats covering 37 games in Detroit last year. His 2024 also got off to a rough start, as he was slashing just .096/.224/.219 with two home runs and three RBI through May 6 before being demoted.
Parker returned to the Tigers (71-70) in early July and has been one of the team’s hottest hitters over the last two months, raising his triple slash to .225/.293/.417.
He returned to the show, immediately strung together an eight-game hitting streak, and had a 10-game hot stretch from Aug. 21-Sept. 1.
The Atlanta native has been a massive part of Detroit’s recent surge that now has them five games behind the Kansas City Royals (76-65) for the final AL wild-card spot.
