Your first major league start, your first at-bat, and your first strikeout.
For many, the first time is a memorable one.메이저사이트
For right-handed pitcher Slade Cecchini (Arizona Diamondbacks), making his big league debut against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, his first start was even more special.
He got the first batter he faced in the majors, Ramonte Wade Jr.
The 24-year-old was a first-round pick by Arizona in the 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft, and he quickly rose through the minors to the big leagues.
In the bottom of the first inning, he faced the first batter, Wade Jr. on a full count and drove a six-pitch four-seam fastball deep into the batter’s body.
After walking to first base on a called ball in play, Wade Jr. paused on the Arizona bench to request a video review, and the call was overturned on replay.
Slow-mo replays showed that Chesney’s pitch did not hit Wade Jr. in the body, but struck him near the handle of the bat and deflected toward catcher Jose Herrera.
Arizona pitcher Slade Cecchini in his big league debut.
[AP]
Herrera made a reflexive catch of the ball, which landed between his crotches, with the force of his thighs.
Video review ruled it a foul-tipped strike because the catcher was able to “catch” the ball off the batter’s bat on the second strike with his body.
Checheny finished his big league debut with a no-decision, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in 4⅔ innings, and his team fell to 2-4.
The bizarre first strikeout created a buzz in the Arizona dugout.
“At first I thought I hit Wade Jr. and I was like, ‘Okay, next batter up.’ It wasn’t until I saw the slow screen that I realized I caught the ball in my groin, so I was like, ‘Oh my God, you can get a strikeout like that,'” he said.
Herrera, who gave the rookie pitcher his first strikeout with his thigh, said, “I tried to hold the ball in my pants for as long as I could, and that’s the first time I’ve ever done that in my life as a catcher.”
