Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager have both broken the MLB record for most home runs before the All-Star break by a rookie shortstop, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).
The Midsummer Classic has been played since 1933, and Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra (1997) held the old record with 13 homers before the break.
The 23-year-old Story already has 16 entering Tuesday's action, with 22-year-old Seager just a couple behind at 14.
While Seager was widely viewed as one of baseball's elite prospects for the past few years as the 18th overall draft selection in 2012, Story was picked a bit later in the 2011 draft's supplemental first round and never achieved top-prospect status.
Seager thrived in his first taste of the majors last season, posting a .337/.425/.561 stat line with four home runs, 17 RBI, 17 runs and two stolen bases in 113 plate appearances (27 games). He did, however, end the season on a sour note, recording just three hits in 16 at-bats in five playoff games as the Dodgers bowed out to the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.
Story, meanwhile, spent last season at the Double-A and Triple-A levels prior to making his MLB debut Opening Day this year.
He instantly made a name for himself by setting an MLB record with six home runs in his first four career games, then later setting a National League rookie mark with 10 homers in April.
Story has since tapered off quite a bit, largely because he leads the majors with a whopping 81 strikeouts, putting him on pace for an all-time record of 230, which would top the 223 recorded by Mark Reynolds in 2009.
Seager has a more balanced approach at the plate, sitting well ahead of Story in terms of batting average (.283 to .262) and on-base percentage (.340 to .315), albeit with the Rockies shortstop holding a significant advantage in slugging percentage (.563 to .526).
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