How does baseball player make a name for himself on his first day in the Big Leagues? Just hit grand slam on your very first pitch.
Daniel Nava, who had just been called up from AAA Pawtucket by the Boston Red Sox, did just that tonight against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton.
Nava was batting left-handed and started left field for the BoSox. He becomes the first player to hit a grand slam in his first Red Sox at bat since Eddie Pellagrini managed to do so back in 1946.
Darnell McDonald also homered in his very first major league at-bat earlier this year. Nava later tacked on a double in the fifth inning.
Nava, 27, played 54 games for Pawtucket this season, hitting .294 with eight homers, 38 RBIs and a .364 on-base percentage.
“It’s obviously a dream come true,” Nava said. “I was telling my friends, ‘Sorry guys if I don’t know what to say because I’m kind of speechless, the whole thing happened so fast.’ I’m trying to learn what to do, where to go.”
Daniel Nava had previously been released by Santa Clara University, then served as their clubhouse manager for two years (washing their uniforms) and had to enroll in a junior college before Santa Clara later decided they wanted him back.
Tonight, the Red Sox wound up beating the Phillies 10-2.
Check out the amazing video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odZKBOXn0yc
Image via Reuters
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- Rookie Red Sox Daniel Nava’s Grand Introduction to The Fenway Faithful (bleacherreport.com)
- Red Sox rookie hits first pitch for grand slam (nbcsports.msnbc.com)
- Nava Makes a Grand Slam Debut (abcnews.go.com)
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