this is legitimately stunning. Unprecedented?
@Brand Name
Of players with 1+ HBP in a career, min. 10.0+ career IP: 26 such careers exist where HBP exceeds XBH allowed in the Modern Era, 1901 to present, including Adams, of players with consistent data. Stathead is not reliable here so I had to double-code that. Very fun.
The player with the biggest difference of HBP to XBH is Bill Powell, who plunked 6 and gave up one XBH across four seasons and 3 teams from 1909-1913. Adams is tied with Carl Ray and Don Kainer for the second largest difference, at 5. Using HBP:XBH as a ratio, 11 of the 26 had at least one HBP but no XBH allowed, led by the aforementioned Kainer at 3.
If we're looking at something like most IP amongst the 26 with more HBP:XBH? Elmer Koestner is the only one with more career than Adams (AA is at 155.2 entering 2025), at 169.2 IP from 1910-1914. Third place isn't especially close though, at 89.1 IP from Ross Reynolds.
Looking at other actives, yep, there's two, but both made their debut last year: Ryan Zeferjahn of the Angels (2 HBP, 1 XBH) and Luis Peralta of the Rockies (also 2 HBP, 1 XBH). Latter is Freddy's brother. Both have Sox connections: Zeferjahn was part of the Luis Garcia trade while Peralta was traded for Jalen Beeks.
It's a depth move.
