TAMPA, Fla. -- Officially, Jordan Yost won’t get his first professional at-bat until the Minor League regular season begins and the Tigers assign their top pick from last year’s MLB Draft to his first Minor League stop. But nobody who saw him step to the plate in Sunday’s 12-1 win over the Yankees will forget what unfolded, especially Yost’s family.
Whatever the stats say, Yost hit a grand slam in his first plate appearance as a pro player.
“It was exciting, fun to be out there and get an opportunity,” Yost said. “Made the most of it, I guess.”
The Tigers brought over Yost, the Tigers’ No. 9 prospect, from Minor League camp as an extra player for their travel roster to George M. Steinbrenner Field, a ballpark where the Tampa native played in high-school tournaments. Manager A.J. Hinch’s hope was to get Yost an at-bat at designated hitter late in the game.
“It's always nice for these guys to come over and get a look at what big leaguers look like and who they aspire to be,” Hinch said before the game. “I try to get these guys in the game as best I can. We haven't gotten every person who's come over into a game, but I'm trying to.”
After two rain delays and four at-bats for starting DH Kerry Carpenter, Hinch joked to Yost that the only fans remaining might be his family and friends.
“My grandparents, my parents and a few friends,” Yost said were in attendance. “My high-school coach as well.”
Said Hinch: “I’m glad they waited.”
COMPLETE TIGERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
They couldn’t have seen a better opportunity. Up stepped Yost to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out in the eighth inning against Yankees Minor League reliever Zach Messinger, who spent most of last season in Triple-A.
True to his scouting report coming out of the Draft, Yost stayed disciplined and waited for his pitch.
“Just do my job,” he said. “I know it's bases loaded, no outs. If anything, get the ball to the outfield, put together a good at-bat.”
After Yost stayed off the first pitch for a ball, he waited on the fastball and pounced.
“I was ready for the heater,” he said. “I got it pretty good.”
The power that ensued was not part of the scouting report. And as his ensuing drive cleared the right-field fence, his family in the stands could be heard screaming in joy and disbelief.
“I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it,” they said as their phones began to ring.
About the only person in the ballpark who couldn’t hear them was Yost.
“I didn't really hear them, didn't hear many people running around the bases,” he said. “I knew what was going on, just overjoyed, excited running the bases. I wouldn’t say I blacked out, just kind of a good moment, I guess.”
Not a bad debut for a prospect whose power was a mystery when the Tigers drafted him 24th overall last summer. His contact and plate discipline were the strengths of his quick, simple swing, but power was supposed to develop as he grew older and stronger. That latter part was the focus of his offseason.
“I gained about 13 pounds,” he said. “That was the main priority, especially coming into the spring. My offseason goal was just to get bigger, stronger, and I think that's helped in kind of all areas. I've actually gotten faster, too.
“The strength coaches are great. They're working with me every single day to try to get me bigger and stronger, and I think it's paying off for sure.”
Yost also added a timing mechanism to his previously no-stride swing, adding a toe tap to generate separation.
“It’s produced some good results so far,” he said.
Yost will get another opportunity to don the Olde English D on Friday night, when he joins fellow Tigers prospects in their Spring Breakout matchup against the Pirates in Bradenton. That game will be on MLB Network beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. But he’ll have a hard time topping Sunday.
“That was a really, really cool moment for him,” Hinch said. “He’ll go home happy.”