In debut, O’s prospect Westburg tallies one MLB first after one other

n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},”__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Let’s relive every of Westburg’s firsts together with him and his new membership.”,”kind”:”textual content”,”__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”**The first jog onto the sector** nWestburg had a ton of assist in Baltimore for his debut. His mother and father, Paul and Christine, his spouse, Anna Claire, and a gaggle of loud former coworkers sitting immediately behind dwelling plate all made positive to get the remainder of the group backing the latest member of the Orioles.nnAs Westburg jogged out to second base to open the sport, he wished to “lock in and focus.” That grew to become too tough to do.nn“At the same time, I just wanted to look around, take in the atmosphere, the environment, the people,” Westburg stated. “This is something I’ve never been a part of before, so it’s just really special.””,”kind”:”textual content”,”__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-06-27T00:06:15.866Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL(“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”)”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/26/f5263454-dec775cc-1ee4b101-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Jordan Westburg attracts a stroll in his first plate look as a Major Leaguer within the backside of the 2nd inning”,”showAsVideoGif”:false,”period”:”00:00:30″,”slug”:”brandon-williamson-ball-to-jordan-westburg-e1tnpl”,”tags”:[“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2023″,”title”:”Season 2023″,”type”:”season”,”__typename”:”GameTag”,”__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-676059″,”title”:”Jordan Westburg”,”person”:”__ref”:”Person:676059″,”type”:”player”,”__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-110″,”title”:”Baltimore Orioles”,”team”:”__ref”:”Team:110″,”type”:”team”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-debut”,”title”:”MLB debut”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”style”,”title”:”style”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-top-prospects”,”title”:”MLB Top Prospects”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”],”thumbnail”:”__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/formatInstructions/mlb/rr84ysurzz91bh0rqnus”,”title”:”Westburg walks in first PA”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/brandon-williamson-ball-to-jordan-westburg-e1tnpl”,”__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”**The first plate look, first stroll and first run** nWhen Westburg stood on deck within the second inning, he first observed how a lot sooner the sport appeared than these he skilled within the Minors. 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He confirmed that with an incredible defensive play within the fifth at second base, one of many 5 positions he performed at Triple-A this 12 months (together with third, shortstop and each corner-outfield spots).nnWith a runner on first and one out, Westburg fielded a grounder hit up the center by Kevin Newman, flipping the ball to Jorge Mateo, stationed on the bag, utilizing solely the glove to report the out.nn“I’m sure he’s done it quite a few times. 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Nobody desires to start his MLB profession with an extended 0-fer.nnThat’s why Westburg felt a way of aid when he blooped a singled into left discipline within the fifth, having circled on a 3-2 slider nicely inside. 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6:23 AM UTC

BALTIMORE — The darkish, overcast sky broke open and a torrential downpour fell to the bottom. The crowd of orange-clad followers toughed via it, producing chants of “Wes-ty! Wes-ty!” that stormed down as equally exhausting because the rain.

Jordan Westburg nearly couldn’t imagine it. Here he was, standing within the batter’s field at a giant league ballpark throughout an MLB recreation, with everyone cheering him on via opposed climate situations. It wasn’t something just like the eventualities he envisioned in his thoughts.

“Pretty crazy,” Westburg stated. “It felt like something out of like a movie, or something that you dream, honestly.”

It was an evening of many firsts for Westburg, who did nearly the whole lot a participant can do in his first Major League recreation. The 24-year-old infielder, recalled from Triple-A Norfolk earlier within the day, left his mark throughout Baltimore’s 10-3 win vs. Cincinnati, a victory that moved the O’s (48-29) a season-high 19 video games above .500.

Let’s relive every of Westburg’s firsts together with him and his new membership.

The first jog onto the sector
Westburg had a ton of assist in Baltimore for his debut. His mother and father, Paul and Christine, his spouse, Anna Claire, and a gaggle of loud former coworkers sitting immediately behind dwelling plate all made positive to get the remainder of the group backing the latest member of the Orioles.

As Westburg jogged out to second base to open the sport, he wished to “lock in and focus.” That grew to become too tough to do.

“At the same time, I just wanted to look around, take in the atmosphere, the environment, the people,” Westburg stated. “This is something I’ve never been a part of before, so it’s just really special.”

The first plate look, first stroll and first run
When Westburg stood on deck within the second inning, he first observed how a lot sooner the sport appeared than these he skilled within the Minors. With two outs and no one on base, he acquired his flip to face Reds starter Brandon Williamson.

“I just kept telling myself, ‘Man, just breathe, just breathe,’” Westburg stated.

Westburg fell behind within the depend, 0-2, earlier than taking three consecutive balls. He fouled off a 3-2 fastball. Then, he laid off a changeup nicely under the strike zone, drawing a seven-pitch stroll.

“That takes a tremendous amount of patience,” O’s teammate Austin Hays stated. “Especially with the rain coming down, to be able to [come back from] 0-2, when you know you want that first hit.”

Three batters later, Hays knocked a single to middle discipline that introduced round Westburg for his first large league run scored.

The first RBI
It wasn’t flashy, however Westburg drove in his first run within the third by hitting right into a fielder’s selection groundout to 3rd. It was a key a part of a Baltimore rally that occurred after motion resumed following a rain delay (the second of the evening), which lasted one hour and 44 minutes.

It additionally confirmed Westburg’s hustle, as he prevented Cincinnati from turning a double play and helped power an error that allowed a second run to attain, pushing the Orioles’ result in 4-1.

“It’s a young player in his debut, so you’re just trying to hope he feels as comfortable as possible,” supervisor Brandon Hyde stated. “There’s a lot of people watching him and I just want him to relax and play, and I thought he did that.”

The first defensive gem
Westburg principally gained consideration within the Minors for his bat, however he’s no slouch on protection. He confirmed that with an incredible defensive play within the fifth at second base, one of many 5 positions he performed at Triple-A this 12 months (together with third, shortstop and each corner-outfield spots).

With a runner on first and one out, Westburg fielded a grounder hit up the center by Kevin Newman, flipping the ball to Jorge Mateo, stationed on the bag, utilizing solely the glove to report the out.

“I’m sure he’s done it quite a few times. He nailed it right there,” Hays stated. “Shows he’s comfortable and confident in himself.”

The first hit
All of the above had occurred, however Westburg nonetheless hadn’t recorded crucial first for any debuting participant — the primary hit. Nobody desires to start his MLB profession with an extended 0-fer.

That’s why Westburg felt a way of aid when he blooped a singled into left discipline within the fifth, having circled on a 3-2 slider nicely inside. It wasn’t one of the best instance of his super energy (which allowed him to hit 18 homers in 67 Triple-A video games this 12 months), however that didn’t matter.

“Wouldn’t want it any other way,” stated Westburg, who completed 1-for-4. “Any hit, I’m going to take, and to knock the first one off in the first game is pretty cool.”

Westburg’s household cheered and hugged within the stands. The crowd once more chanted his identify. The ball was retrieved and thrown into the Orioles’ dugout for secure retaining.

Eventually, that ball made its technique to Westburg, who additionally acquired the sport’s lineup sheet as a memento. He plans to show each into framed memorabilia.

After all, he’s all the time going to need to bear in mind this evening, one he stated vastly exceeded his personal lofty expectations.

“That was special,” Westburg remarked.