Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter (30) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at Rate Field. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter Ends Decade-Long Drought With 3-Home Run Game

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Sam Connon | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 7:30 AM ET

When Kerry Carpenter blasted a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, it was merely a sign of things to come for the Detroit Tigers slugger.

Carpenter struck out swinging to end the second inning, but he added another two-run shot in the fourth. When the 27-year-old stepped up to the plate again in the sixth, he notched his third two-run homer of the contest.

On top of putting Detroit up 10-0, that helped Carpenter record the first three-home run game by a Tigers player since Victor Martinez achieved the feat on June 16, 2016.

KERRY CARPENTER. HAT TRICK.

First 3 HR game for us since Victor Martinez on 6/16/16 pic.twitter.com/EVRqJEVbMg
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 3, 2025

As noted by the Tigers' public relations team , there have now been 25 instances of a Detroit player hitting three home runs in a single game. Cecil Fielder did so three times, while Miguel Cabrera, Higginson and Rocky Colavito each did it twice.

Carpenter could have tied the MLB single-game record with a fourth home run, but he cranked a 330-foot fly out to center instead.

The Tigers went on to win 13-1, improving to 40-21 on the season. They became the first MLB team to reach 40 victories in 2025, all while boosting their run differential to plus-98.

Carpenter is now batting .276 with 13 home runs, 27 RBIs and an .822 OPS through 56 games this year. He is on pace to easily surpass the 20 home runs he hit in 2023, as well as the 18 he hit in 2024.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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