Diamondbacks rookie OF Mitch Haniger thrives in MLB debut

Aug 16, 2016, 10:54 PM

Arizona Diamondbacks' Mitch Haniger connects for a two-run triple against the New York Mets during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets won 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

BY KELLAN OLSON

Suns reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

Of all the young players to make an appearance on the Arizona Diamondbacks’ roster this year, Mitch Haniger is one of the least notable. If the name rings a bell, that’s probably because of him being a part of the Gerardo Parra deal in 2014.

On Tuesday night in the D-backs’ 7-5 loss to the New York Mets, however, Haniger quickly changed that.

He went 2-for-4 in his MLB debut on the same day he was called up, with two extra-base hits and three RBI. That’s something no D-back has ever done before in their debut.

Mitch Haniger became the first #Dbacks player to debut with:

3+ RBI
2+ extra-base hits pic.twitter.com/viIyiD84NL

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 17, 2016

In a game that quickly spiraled out of control in favor of the Mets during the middle innings, Haniger was the one trying to bring Arizona back into the game.

His two-RBI triple in the sixth was his first career hit and a big one, giving the D-backs some hope and making the score 7-3.

Haniger’s next at-bat made just as much of an impact. He smashed a RBI double to score Paul Goldschmidt and make the score 7-5 while also placing two runners in scoring position and putting the go-ahead run at the plate.

The next hitter, Chris Owings, would ground out, but the impact Haniger had on the game was clear. The D-backs’ Minor League Player of the Month in July isn’t looking to go back down to Triple-A anytime soon as the club waits for A.J. Pollock to return from his rehab assignment.

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New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Braden Shipley throws a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo, middle, loses the baseball as New York Mets' James Loney, right, and umpire Marvin Hudson, left, look on during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard, left, talks to his catcher after Syndergaard gave up a home run to Arizona Diamondbacks' Yasmany Tomas, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard smiles in the dugout after his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard (34) celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Jose Reyes (7) during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard watches the flight of his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Kelly Johnson (55) shakes hands with T.J. Rivera (54) after Johnson hit a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Braden Shipley pauses on the mound on his way to giving up four runs against the New York Mets during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Alejandro De Aza slides safely into third base as Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb, right, applies a late tag as Mets third base coach Tim Teufel watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. De Aza hit an RBI double and reached third base on an error by the Diamondbacks. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' T.J. Rivera drops a grounder hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Phil Gosselin, who reached on the error, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets won 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard flips the baseball in the air as the manager comes out to remove the pitcher, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets won 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Mitch Haniger makes a diving catch on a ball hit by New York Mets' James Loney during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets won 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Mitch Haniger connects for a two-run triple against the New York Mets during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets won 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Jose Reyes shouts from the dugout after a teammate scored against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets won 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Jeurys Familia, right, hugs catcher Rene Rivera after the final out of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Mets' Jose Reyes (7) celebrates with T.J. Rivera (54) after the final out of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Phoenix. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 7-5. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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