In a scene that could have come from “The Natural”, highly-heralded rookie Starling Marte hit one out of the park, on the very first pitch he saw in the Major Leagues.
Marte became the first Pirates player to do so since June 1961. Since 2000, thirteen players have hit homers on their very first pitch. Most of them were one-hit wonders — no-names who never really made it big in the Bigs. The one exception might be Kevin Kouzmanoff, who delivered the goods in his first at bat as a member of the Cleveland Indians in 2006.
But there are indications this kid Marte may be special. He hit .520 in a dozen games with the Bucs during spring training this year, before being sent down to Triple-A. Then in his first game as a real Pirate, he clubbed the first pitch he saw over the left field wall in Houston.
After the game, Marte called his grandmother in the Dominican Republic to tell her the good news. He’ll present her the ball when he sees her next — as a token of gratitude for the woman who raised him.
Now that’s what truly makes Starling a star, in my eyes. Here’s looking at you kid.
PNC Park
It will be fun to watch him play in one of MLB’s most beautiful parks.
