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)
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.
