Mariners' Ty France HBP Photo Goes Viral After Post Celebrating Franchise Record | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The graphic design team for the Seattle Mariners was in their bag on Friday night when they went viral for celebrating Ty France putting his name in the franchise record books for a dubious honor.

After France was hit by a pitch from Kansas City Royals starter Daniel Lynch IV in the top of the first inning, the Mariners quickly posted an image on X showing their third baseman in multiple poses wincing from being hit by a pitch, along with a graphic highlighting his record-breaking number of times being hit with a ball:

Seattle Mariners @Mariners

That indeed left a mark. <a href="">

Friday night was probably one of the easiest free bases France has earned in his career. He was hit in the ankle guard on his left leg by an 86 mph slider from Lynch.

While normally this type of record wouldn't seem like that big of a deal, the combination of the image and France's preternatural ability to get with a ball make this stand out.

For context, Edgar Martinez had been the Mariners' all-time leader in times hit by a pitch. The Baseball Hall of Famer was plunked 89 times in 2,055 games over his 18-year MLB career.

France started his career with the San Diego Padres before being traded to Seattle in August 2020. The 29-year-old has been hit 90 times in 534 games with the Mariners. He ranks third among active AL players in times hit by a pitch, trailing two players who have appeared in over 900 more games than France.

Danny Vietti @DannyVietti

Most HBP in the AL among active players:<br>1. Jose Abreu: 125 HBP (1,441 games)<br>2. Mike Trout: 100 HBP (1,518 games)<br>3. Ty France: 90 HBP (534 games)<br><br>Ty France is a hit by pitch MACHINE <a href="">

Secret Base @secretbase

Dorktown: Ty France! <a href="">

France tied for the MLB lead in times hit by a pitch in 2021 (27) and outright led the league in 2023 (34). No other player was hit by a pitch more than 21 times in 2023. He only walked nine more times (43) than he was hit by a pitch last year.

The ability to get hit by a pitch is a skill that France has mastered. It's allowed him to maintain a .346 on-base percentage with the Mariners, making him an above-average offensive player despite not having the type of power normally associated with a corner infielder.

Unfortunately for France and the Mariners, his record-setting moment came during one of their lowest moments of the season. They scored seven runs in the top of the first inning before losing 10-9 after allowing three runs in the bottom of the ninth.