Mejia’s historic streak comes to an end at 50

Less than 20 hours after a controversial postgame scoring change kept Francisco Mejia’s historic hitting streak alive, a diving catch ended it at 50 games. The Indians’ top catching prospect went 0-for-3 with a walk and was robbed of a hit when he lined out in his final at-bat of Class A Advanced Lynchburg’s x-x win over Winston-Salem on Sunday.

Mejia’s streak was the fourth-longest in Minor League history and the longest in 62 years, since Roman Mejias hit in 55 straight for Waco in 1954. Mejia, the Indians’ No. 4 prospect, tied the 50-game mark of Otto Pahlman, who achieved the feat in 1922.

Longest Minor League hitting streaks Player Games Year Joe Wilhoit 69 1919 Joe DiMaggio 61 1933 Roman Mejias 55 1954 Francisco Mejia 50 2016 Otto Pahlman 50 1922 Jack Ness 49 1915 Harry Chozen 49 1945 Johnny Bates 46 1925 James McOwen 45 2009 Brandon Watson 43 2007 Eddie Marshall 43 1935 Orlando Moreno 43 1947 Howie Bedell 43 1961 Jack Lelivelt 42 1912 Herbert Chapman 42 1950 Ducky Detweiler 40 1942 Frosty Kennedy 40 1953

The Minor League record is 69, set by Joe Wilhoit in 1919. Joe DiMaggio, whose big league record hit streak of 56 games is being celebrated for its 75th anniversary this season, had a 61-game Minor League hit streak in 1933, second-longest of all-time.

Mejia’s streak had seemingly come to an end at 49 games after the Indians prospect went 0-for-4 in Lynchburg Hillcats’ 7-5, 10-inning loss to Winston-Salem on Saturday. But then the epic run was resuscitated when word came — over an hour after the completion of the game — that the official scorer had changed a controversial call from an E5 to a double.

Mejia posted a .386/.414/.599 slash line with 15 doubles, two triples, eight homers and 42 RBIs during his streak, which started on May 27 and lasted nearly three months.

Perhaps most impressive in Mejia’s run is how he hurdled major obstacles that could’ve potentially led to a hitless night.

Mejia was promoted to Lynchburg 24 games into the streak and had three layoffs of four days or more during the incredible run: four days due to the Midwest League All-Star Game on June 21, in which he fittingly registered a hit; four days due to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 10, in which he also recorded a hit; and five days when he was sidelined with the stomach flu from July 18-22 . He then played in …

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