CLEVELAND -- Stephen Vogt got to watch Angel Genao up close this spring, when the top prospect earned a non-roster invite to Guardians big league camp. Between Genao’s infectious smile and his electric skill set, the skipper had a bit of a premonition.
“His energy, I think, is going to be a bolt for all of us,” Vogt said Wednesday afternoon.
Genao is already lighting up Progressive Field. The 22-year-old delivered a performance we’ll remember for years to come in his historic MLB debut on Wednesday night, in the Guardians’ 6-5 loss to the Mets in 10 innings at Progressive Field.
Genao went 4-for-5 to become the first player in Cleveland franchise history to log four hits in his big league debut. The previous franchise record was three hits in a debut, achieved by nine hitters -- including Chase DeLauter on Opening Day this season.
Genao also is just the 22nd player in the Majors since 1900 with four or more hits in their debut and the second this season, following Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle (March 26).
The Guardians recalled Genao (ranked as Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect and No. 39 overall by MLB Pipeline) from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday afternoon. It marked the latest move signaling the urgency the club feels as it approaches the stretch run.
Gabriel Arias, who was having an up-and-down season, was designated for assignment to make room for Genao on the active roster.
Genao got his first career hit out of the way swiftly. He hit a single off Mets starter Christian Scott on the first pitch he saw in the Majors in the third inning. Genao added two more base hits, in the fifth and sixth, before he delivered once more in the seventh.
With two outs and the game tied at 4 in the seventh, Genao hit a first-pitch single to left field off Mets reliever Dedniel Núñez. It looked like it would be enough to send the Guardians to victory, but Cleveland coughed up the lead in the ninth inning and fell in 10.