The "As If One New Member Of The Phils Setting A Record Wasn't Enough!" Story

My story a few days ago about a new Philly pitcher in the line-up was fun to write as well as watch on TV.  But, that isn't the only event that happened during the game that evening.  Phils were playing the Nationals that past Wednesday night.  Another one of the Phils in the lineup that night was a fellow by the name of Wes Wilson.  It was Wilson's debut in the Major Leagues.  Wilson has more than 2,500 career at-bats in the minor leagues with 97 home runs across seven seasons.  He hadn't been called up once by a Major League team until the Phillies picked him up this past week.  The 28-year-old was batting seventh in the Phillies manager's  a week or so ago when he came to the plate for the first time as a big-leaguer in the second inning.   He had played in 706 games in the minors spread across seven seasons before he finally had a chance to see Major League pitching.   When he finally came to the plate for the first time as a big-leaguer, he took a big swing on the third pitch and blasted a 429-foot shot off a MacKenzie Gore breaking ball, and that makes Wilson the first Phillie to ever homer in his first Major League Baseball at-bat since 1998.  Most of all, it's a moment Wilson's family will remember forever, since Wilson's family had the chance to see him in person that night.   Wes is the 80th major leaguer to ever hit a home run in his first at bat.  He did it at the age of 28.  I read over the list of professional players who hit a homer on their first at bat and most I had never heard of.  One such player I did recognize was pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm who hit a homer in his first at bat.  Several other players hit homers in their first game, but not during their 1st at bat.  The homerun was a 429-foot blast off a MacKeenzie Gore breaking ball.  Most of all, it's a moment Wilson's family will remember forever.  A camera zoomed in on his family and caught his father with tears in his eyes.  I must admit that I would have been the same way had it been my son.  And, what made the event a bit less noteworthy that evening is that another player on the Phillies pithed a no-hitter during his first professional major league game.  Oh well, Wes will still have great memories of that game no matter what else might have happened in the game.  Congratulations Wes for your name going into the record books for homer in your first major league at bat!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Wes Wilson connecting for his 1st Major League homer.