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 with four singles 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).
“[It was] more than I could ever imagine,” Genao said of his debut through interpreter Agustin Rivero. “Obviously, the last piece was to get the win for the team, but thank God for giving me the opportunity to have this.”
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 stepped to the plate for the first time as a big leaguer in the third inning, to a nice ovation from the home crowd at Progressive Field. He swiftly got his first career hit out of the way by lining a first-pitch sweeper from Mets starter Christian Scott to right field for a hit.
That moment perfectly aligned with the self scouting report Genao provided pregame. He described himself as a hitter who makes a lot of contact and who will put the ball in play, while showing occasional power.
Genao had an unfortunate snafu before his next at-bat; he picked up two errors on one play in the fourth. Genao was handed a fielding error after he had trouble fielding a Carson Benge grounder and a throwing error after his toss across the diamond skipped past first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.
“Obviously, you don't want those things to happen,” Genao said. “But as a professional, you turn the page. You know you have to be ready because the team keeps depending on you.”
The moment could have rattled Genao. It didn’t. He added two more base hits, in the fifth and sixth, before he delivered his biggest of the night in the seventh. With two outs and the game tied at 4, Genao hit a first-pitch go-ahead RBI single to left field off Mets reliever Dedniel Núñez, driving in Angel Martínez.
After he took a big turn around first base, Genao let out a massive fist pump as he backpedaled to the bag.
“Four in your first is insane,” Lowe said of Genao’s big night. “He probably feels like Superman. We're super happy for him, and hope he can contribute going forward.”
It felt like Genao’s RBI single in the seventh would send the Guardians to victory. But Cleveland coughed up the lead in the ninth inning and fell in 10 in one of its more frustrating losses this season.
Vogt got ejected in the sixth for arguing with third-base umpire Chad Fairchild, who rang up DeLauter on a check swing. Closer Cade Smith suffered his fifth blown save, in part because Brayan Rocchio committed a two-out fielding error with the bases loaded.
The Guardians also went 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position and left 15 men on base. With Genao on second to start the 10th, the Guardians dugout called for Steven Kwan (who hit .403 in July) to bunt. He popped out to third baseman Bo Bichette.
Genao nearly helped Cleveland overcome it all. He stepped to the plate in the ninth to a standing ovation, with Rocchio on second base as the winning run. Genao hit a drive to left-center field off right-hander Chayce McDermott.
Genao thought he got enough of it off the bat. Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. snagged the 383-foot drive on the warning track. The close call did nothing to dampen Genao’s night.
“He's gonna be a superstar,” said DeLauter, who came up with Genao in the Guardians’ farm system. “I've seen him do his thing for a couple years. He’s gonna be a superstar.”