SEATTLE -- As he tried to catch up on his sleep and calm the nerves that come with waiting for the birth of his first child, Yandy Díaz was the only American League starter that didn’t take part in batting practice on the field before Tuesday’s 3-2, National League victory at the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. 

Turns out Díaz didn’t need it as he launched a solo homer over the left-field wall off Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller in the second inning in his first at-bat in a Midsummer Classic. 

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“I think this year will mean a lot in my life,” Díaz said. “First, the Rays gave me an extension and I was able to sign that. Secondly, thankfully I’m having a great season and was able to make the All-Star Game. And lastly, but definitely the most important one, I’m going to be able to be a dad tomorrow and meet my son.” 

Díaz has always known he has all the tools to be one of the best hitters in baseball. He knew making an All-Star Game was possible. What he definitely couldn’t have envisioned is how hectic all of his plans would be in order to get to Seattle. 

With his wife, Mayisleidis, expecting their son, Yandy Jr., on Wednesday, Díaz didn’t fly to Seattle with the rest of his Rays teammates Sunday night. Instead, Díaz stayed back in St. Petersburg to take care of his wife.

At first, he wasn’t sure he was going to attend the festivities. The baby was scheduled to be born on Tuesday. But with the blessing of his wife and with assurance from doctors that the baby could be born a day later, Díaz decided to go to the event and run out with the rest of the American League starters. 

Those travel plans started at 2 p.m. ET on Monday when Díaz arrived at the Tampa airport. His flight was delayed a few hours and didn’t take off until 7 p.m. That meant Díaz wasn’t going to land in Seattle until 2:30 a.m. PT on Tuesday. 

Díaz said he got inside his hotel room around 3 a.m. and got four hours of sleep. He joked that maybe he was trying to get used to short hours of sleep knowing the baby will control his sleeping schedule for the next few months. 

After a heavy breakfast, Díaz then made his way to the stadium to meet and interact with his All-Star teammates. A few hours later, he crossed home plate and became the first Cuban-born player to hit a homer in an All-Star Game since Octavio Rojas in 1972. He’s also the first Rays player to hit a homer in a Midsummer Classic after being named a starter.

“Right now, my head is spinning,” Díaz said. “But I’m happy I came.” 

While hitting that homer in a Midsummer Classic is an accomplishment Díaz will never forget, the next 12 hours will be just as hectic. After the All-Star Game, he was frantically looking for the bus that was going to take him and the rest of his teammates to the airport. He wants to make sure everything goes according to plan.

After all, as soon as he arrives in Tampa at approximately 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, Díaz will go straight to the hospital. His wife’s C-section is scheduled for 7 a.m. Shortly after that, Díaz will become a father. 

The last 24 hours will cap off Díaz’s historic year. And Yandy Jr. will have a heck of a story to tell. 

“That’s my first baby,” Díaz said with a smile. “And when he grows older, he can tell his friends that his dad dedicated that home run to him.”