MINNEAPOLIS -- Emmanuel Rodriguez’s moment in the Majors finally arrived on Saturday afternoon -- and he’s already living up to the hype.
The Twins’ No. 5 prospect was called up from Triple-A St. Paul and made his MLB debut in a 4-3 victory over the Guardians at Target Field. After being limited to 353 career Minor League games in six seasons due to injuries, Rodriguez was intent on making his impact known right away.
Rodriguez batted ninth and played center field for his MLB debut. While many fans will be excited to see the skill set at the plate, Rodriguez will keep in mind the one thing that’s made the game so important to him over the years: Having fun.
"After all these hard-working years and all the time it's taken, I still want to enjoy myself," Rodriguez said before the game through teammate Pablo López. "It's going to be a big moment, but I just want to take the field, enjoy and do my baseball thing."
In his first MLB at-bat in the bottom of the third, Rodriguez hit a Statcast-projected 420-foot home run on a 2-1 fastball off right-hander Franco Aleman to tie the game at 1-1.
Rodriguez’s wife and son were there for his debut, along with his parents and an aunt and uncle.
“It was mesmerizing,” Rodriguez said postgame. “I was joking with my family, and they were joking with me, 'Can you imagine if you hit a homer in your first at-bat?' It's probably one of those ways that baseball can make things happen.”
Rodriguez became the first Twin since Eddie Rosario in 2015 to hit a home run in his first plate appearance, and the first Twin since his teammate Kaelen Culpepper on Aug. 7 to hit a home run in his first MLB game.
COMPLETE TWINS PROSPECT COVERAGE
“You very rarely see someone in their debut hit a homer in their [first] at-bat, but to go backside at 111 [mph exit velocity] into our bullpen as a line drive, that was very impressive,” said Twins manager Derek Shelton. “I think right there demonstrated one of the things of why we think Emma is an impact player.”
The 23-year-old showed pure elation as he crossed home plate. The homer was the start of a four-run inning that was the difference for the Twins, as his teammates followed up with three RBI singles in four of the next five at-bats.
Rodriguez made a curtain call with his biggest smile of the day, pumping his fist in the air as he thanked the fans.
“My thing is I want to put on a show for the fans and for the fans to receive me that way --- I have no words to describe how grateful and happy I am for how they did that,” Rodriguez said.
Just an inning earlier, Rodriguez showed off his arm strength when starter Connor Prielipp found himself in a jam with runners on first and second. The Guardians’ hero from Friday night’s game, Angel Martínez, tried to go first-to-third on a Travis Bazzana single up the middle. But Rodriguez corralled the ball and timed his throw perfectly to Brooks Lee at third to tag out Martínez.
“It had been a quiet game and then [he] came out with a bang,” said Lee. “... It was awesome to see him get called up and automatically play with some purpose.”
Rodriguez ended his day 1-for-4. While he had no plans for where the home run ball would go, he knew the first person he wanted to share it with was his 2-year-old son.
Rodriguez had been emotional since learning about his call-up on Friday night.
“Very exciting, and full disclosure, I cried,” Rodriguez said. “When I got the news, I called my family, so it's been pretty hectic, pretty crazy, but completely and absolutely special."
The 23-year-old slashed .262/.414/.500 with 11 home runs and a .914 OPS in 49 games for the Saints this season.
“Number one, he has played well and deserves to be here,” said Shelton. “Number two, I think we want to get an opportunity to get a look at him going into next year.”
Rodriguez’s debut was delayed after he sustained a UCL sprain in his left thumb on May 1, sliding headfirst to beat a play at first base.
"Everything happens at the right time. Earlier in the year, before the injury, I knew it was going to be my time, my moment,” Rodriguez said. “Things happen, but everything works out the way it's supposed to work out.”
To make room for Rodriguez on the 26-man roster, the Twins optioned infielder Ben Ross to St. Paul. Ross made his Major League debut on Sept. 1 and went 0-for-4 with one run scored in three games for Minnesota.