D-backs’ Domingo Leyba gets called up, first MLB hit on same day
Jun 22, 2019, 10:00 PM | Updated: 10:33 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Domingo Leyba, middle, smiles while acknowledging his teammates in the dugout after getting his first in the majors, as Diamondbacks first base coach Dave McKay, right, and San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, left, stand nearby during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 22, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks debutant Domingo Leyba got his first MLB hit in Saturday night’s 7-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
The middle infielder was recalled from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day following Kevin Cron being optioned to Reno after Friday night’s game.
Leyba didn’t get the start, but he didn’t need multiple at-bats to prove his worth at the big league level.
Manager Torey Lovullo called the 23-year-old’s number to pinch hit in the bottom of the 6th inning.
The switch hitter stepped up to the plate from the left side and on an 0-2 count, drove a Mark Melancon cutter the other way to left field, giving him a perfect 1.000 average for his MLB career.
It took Domingo Leyba 7 years to reach the Bigs, but it only took him one at-bat to collect his first Major League hit.
Congratulations, @JuniorL07! #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/ddIXggzURS
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 23, 2019
It took Leyba seven years before being called up to the big leagues. He was acquired along with Robbie Ray in the Didi Gregorius trade in December of 2014.
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The rookie was named the No. 2 and No. 3 prospect in the D-backs’ organization by MLB.com and Baseball America, respectively. The latter also crowned him as the 2015 California League Best Defensive Infielder.
Leyba’s time with the big-league club will be a question mark due to Lovullo frequently recalling and optioning players to and from Triple-A Reno.
But one thing is for certain, Leyba will never forget this night. And if he continues to hit and gets an opportunity to flash the leather, the D-backs manager might be forced to keep him in the show.
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