Matos data first Major League hit in Giants’ comeback win

ST. LOUIS — With the assistance of Google Translate, supervisor Gabe Kapler despatched a textual content to outfield prospect Luis Matos on Tuesday evening to congratulate him on his impending Major League debut with the Giants. Matos’ response required no translation. 

“Just fire,” Kapler mentioned. “Enthusiastic fire emojis.”

Matos, fittingly, stayed sizzling on the plate in his first Major League recreation, lining the second pitch he noticed from Cardinals left-hander Jordan Montgomery to left discipline for his first profession hit within the first inning of the Giants’ 8-5 comeback win on Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium. 

The 21-year-old Venezuelan clapped his arms and sported an enormous grin upon reaching first, soaking within the second he’d been working towards for his whole life. 

“I’m really excited,” Matos mentioned earlier than the sport. “It’s a dream come true. Every baseball player dreams of this. I’m excited to be here and have this opportunity.”  

Matos, who batted second and began in heart discipline, lined out in his subsequent two at-bats earlier than being lifted for pinch-hitter Michael Conforto within the prime of the seventh. The Giants trailed, 5-3, within the prime of the ninth earlier than Mike Yastrzemski cranked a two-out, two-strike dwelling run off Cardinals nearer Giovanny Gallegos to tie the sport and power further innings.

Yastrzemski opened the tenth at second base as the automated runner and scored the go-ahead run on Thairo Estrada’s RBI single to heart discipline, serving to the Giants (36-32) full a three-game sweep of the Cardinals and transfer a season-high 4 video games over .500.

Matos had been within the midst of a torrid streak at Triple-A Sacramento, the place he batted .398 with a 1.120 OPS and 7 dwelling runs over 24 video games earlier than incomes his long-awaited promotion on Wednesday. He was referred to as as much as change left fielder Mitch Haniger, who is predicted to overlook important time after touchdown on the 10-day injured checklist with a proper forearm fracture.

Matos (21 years, 137 days) is the fourth-youngest lively participant on a Major League roster, behind the Marlins’ Eury Pérez, the Braves’ A.J. Smith-Shawver and the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker. He is the youngest participant to debut with the Giants since a 20-year-old Madison Bumgarner broke into the Majors in 2009.

“It’s unbelievable,” mentioned third baseman David Villar, who was additionally recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday. “He’s barely legal. … It’s always shocking when you can see a young kid like that with immense talent being able to do what he can do on a day to day basis.” 

Matos is understood for his elite bat-to-ball abilities, in addition to his premier protection within the outfield, which earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors within the Arizona Fall League final yr.

“I’m really excited for him,” Kapler mentioned. “He comes into Spring Training, we asked him to be a little bit more selective on the pitches he looks to drive, and he applies that right away. Obviously, coming off the defensive accolades from the Arizona Fall League, really good reports on him in center field so far this year. He’s got a chance to be a good all-around player at the Major League level. He’s one of the youngest players in baseball right now. It’s fascinating to be part of his arrival at the Major League level. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can bring.”