baseball player-record
Tigers slugger Rodriguez sets record with 4 consecutive homers to begin KBO career
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- New Kia Tigers infielder Aderlin Rodriguez on Friday became the first player to have four home runs as his first four hits to start a career in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Rodriguez launched a two-run home run off Masaya Kyoyama of the Lotte Giants in the top of the ninth inning at Sajik Baseball Stadium in the southeastern city of Busan.
It was Rodriguez's fourth home run since his KBO debut on Tuesday, and all four of his hits here so far have left yard.
Rodriguez signed a six-week deal worth US$50,000 on Monday as a temporary replacement for injured outfielder Harold Castro. Rodriguez homered in his first game Tuesday and then launched two more dingers Wednesday.
Rodriguez went 0-for-5 Thursday before going deep once again Friday.
Aderlin Rodriguez of the Kia Tigers hits a solo home run against the Hanwha Eagles during the clubs' Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju on May 6, 2026. (Yonhap)
According to the KBO, not counting Rodriguez, there have been four previous occasions where a player's first three hits in the league were all home runs -- most recently Lee Yul-ye for the SSG Landers in 2025.
With four home runs in four games, Rodriguez has already doubled Castro's home run total in 23 games.
Rodriguez, 34, has played 13 seasons in the U.S. minor leagues, including three in Triple-A, but has never played in the majors. He has also played for the Orix Buffaloes and the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
In 236 games in Triple-A, Rodriguez had 60 home runs and 204 RBIs with a .296/.358/.580 line. In his two NPB campaigns, Rodriguez put up a .202/.260/.341 line with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 83 games.
He has been playing in Mexico and the Dominican Winter League since his NPB run ended in 2022. In 2025, Rodriguez launched 35 home runs and drove in 96 runs in 89 games in Mexico.
The Tigers said Monday they hoped Rodriguez will bring some offensive punch to their lineup in Castro's absence and Rodriguez has delivered so far.
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