Imagine the last 24 hours if you are Starling Marte of the Pittsburgh Pirates. You get a call that says you’re going to the show, and grab the next flight to Houston to make your major league debut against the Astros.
Clint Hurdle manager of the Pirates insert you into the leadoff spot. No pressure. Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel is taking his final warm-up tosses. You step into the batter’s box and realize, you have made it, you are in the show.
Keuchel throws his first pitch and you deposit it over the left-field fence. Home run. First pitch you ever saw in the major leagues. That’s what it’s been like for Marte the past 24 hours.
Marte became the 28th player in major league history to homer on the first pitch of his career and the first Pirate to do it since Don Leppert on June 18, 1961. It is not likely it will be his Marte’s last. Welcome to the big leagues
