ARLINGTON -- It was a moment nine years in the making for Eddys Leonard.
One day after making his long-awaited Major League debut, the 25-year-old infielder/outfielder collected his first career hit in the Giants’ 6-0 loss to the Rangers in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Globe Life Field.
Leonard couldn’t contain his smile as he ran the bases after smoking a 106.7 mph double over the head of Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford in the top of the second inning, gleefully clapping his hands and pointing to his family in the stands upon reaching second base.
“A dream come true,” Leonard said. “A long time ago, I was waiting for that moment, and it happened today. I give all the glory to God.”
Leonard’s extra-bagger was one of eight hits for the Giants, who finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position en route to their 11th shutout defeat of the year.
“It ended up, unfortunately, kind of being the highlight of the game,” manager Tony Vitello said. “Just to see him get rewarded for how long it took him -- but also how hard he worked -- to get here. … The first thing you notice during BP, it’s a loud bat. When he gets it on the barrel, he’s obviously got some strength. He drove it over the left fielder’s head there.”
Leonard began his journey in pro ball after signing with the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2017, but he had to wait until Tuesday to finally call himself a big leaguer. He had just gotten back to his Airbnb following a trip to Walmart on Monday when he received a call from Triple-A Sacramento manager Dave Brundage, who told him that the Giants were calling him up to fill out a roster that had been depleted by a massive Trade Deadline selloff.
“I'm not going to lie, I was crying because I was waiting for this moment for a long time,” said Leonard, who signed a Minor League deal with the Giants on July 24.
Leonard immediately reached out to his sister and asked her to go to their mom’s house in the Dominican Republic to share the news with their parents in person.
“I didn’t want them to be crazy or have like a [heart] attack or something,” Leonard said.
Leonard said he planned to give his first-hit ball to his parents, Zunilda and Eddys, who were on hand at Globe Life Field on Tuesday after flying in from the D.R.
“They deserve it,” Leonard said. “This wouldn't be possible without them because of all the things that they did when I was a little kid.”
A right-handed hitter, Leonard has made his first two starts in left field for the Giants, though he can play all over the diamond and made appearances at every position except catcher in the Minor Leagues. He batted .266 with an .807 OPS across parts of eight seasons in the Minors, cycling through five different organizations over that span.
Leonard opened the 2026 campaign with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate in Nashville, but he was released in mid-July and ended up finding a new landing spot with the Giants organization. He appeared in only eight games for Triple-A Sacramento, but he went 4-for-28, with all four of hits going out for home runs.
“I was talking with the guys down there, and they said, ‘Bro, you don't hit base hits, you don't hit doubles, you only hit home runs,’” Leonard said, laughing. “I don't know. I'm just trying to go out there and hit the ball hard, and then that's all that came out.”
Leonard has been filling the spot that was vacated by Heliot Ramos, who was traded to the Yankees on Monday, but it remains to be seen if he’ll remain in the outfield mix once Victor Bericoto completes his rehab from a left oblique strain next week.
Regardless of what lies ahead, Leonard is trying to stay in the moment and make the most of an opportunity that once felt like it had just escaped his grasp.
“At the end of the day, it’s God’s plan,” Leonard said. “I was about to make my debut in 2024 at the beginning of the season with the Tigers, but I got hurt. I came back, started doing good, then I got hurt again. But at the end of the day, it’s God’s purpose. I never gave up. I kept doing my job every single day. Now, everything has paid off.”