CLEVELAND -- One moment, he was playing MLB The Show. In a flash, he was on his way there.
Juan Brito (the Guardians’ No. 16 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline) was in Worcester, Mass., on Monday night, enjoying some down time on Triple-A Columbus’ off-day. The 24-year-old was playing MLB The Show 26 and had the Guardians’ series opener vs. the Royals on in the background.
Brito grew concerned when he watched Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias exit in the fifth inning with a left hamstring injury. A few hours later, Brito got a call with some big news: Cleveland was calling him up to the Majors in Arias’ stead.
Brito got to the airport at 4 a.m. ET on Tuesday to fly to Cleveland. He made his MLB debut in the Guardians’ 2-1 walk-off win over the Royals, going 2-for-4 with a double while hitting sixth and playing second base.
Brito’s double-play partner, shortstop Brayan Rocchio, sent the Guardians home victorious when he hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Starter Gavin Williams worked around five walks in 5 2/3 scoreless innings to hold the Royals to one run -- a Carter Jensen solo shot in the second. Williams struck out eight batters while throwing 102 pitches.