KANSAS CITY -- Royals infielder Ramon Torres knows how to make a debut.
Torres, recalled earlier on Wednesday, had two hits in his first Major League game during a 7-5 win over the Astros.
Torres, part of a series of roster moves that included reinstating left-hander Scott Alexander from the disabled list and optioning outfielder Billy Burns and right-hander Kevin McCarthy, doubled in Alcides Escobar in the fourth inning off left-hander Tony Sipp. That put the Royals up 5-2 and Torres later gave the crowd a hat tip when the scoreboard indicated it was his first Major League hit.
"It's very special, something I'll never forget," Torres said through interpreter Pedro Grifol. "It's something I've been thinking about. I dedicate this to my mom."
Torres' mom had been on his mind heavily since Tuesday night when he found out he was going to be promoted. His first call went to her.
"She didn't say much," Torres said. "She just started crying over the phone."
It has been a long journey to the Majors for Torres, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2009.
Torres, 24, also beat out an infield hit in the sixth.
"He really did a great job," manager Ned Yost said. "And he participated in a win."
Yost said he needed infield depth more than he need Burns as outfield depth.
"On days when I DH [Mike Moustakas] or [Cheslor Cuthbert], I don't have a backup infielder," Yost said. "And I can use [Whit Merrifield] in the outfield."
Torres is hitting .327 at Omaha with five home runs.
"He's a good, fundamentally sound player," Yost said.
The Royals chose Torres over Raul Mondesi, who started the season with the Major League club hitting .308 with a .525 slugging percentage.
"[Torres] isn't going to necessarily play that much up here," Yost said. "Mondi is hitting really well right now and we want him to continue staying hot down there."
Torres, a switch-hitter, is ranked as the club's No. 29 prospect by MLBPipeline.com.
One of the first Royals to congratulate Torres was right fielder Jorge Bonifacio. The two came up through the Minors together.
"It's amazing," Bonifacio said. "When I know, I saw on Instagram they called him up, I just texted him right away like, 'This true?' He told me, 'Yeah, I'm going to be there tomorrow.' I was excited.
"One of my closest friends. I played a lot with him."