Detroit Tigers prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy stepped up to the plate Wednesday with his team trailing the Texas Rangers 4–0 and in need of a spark.
Jacqueline and Henry Malloy, the outfielder’s parents, watched intently from their seats as their son, who was called up to the big leagues Monday, searched for his first career hit.
On a 3–1 count, Malloy crushed a Jose Ureña sinker 413 feet into the left field seats for his first career knock. Bally Sports Detroit’s cameras panned to his parents in the crowd, who were in a perfect state of pure elation and disbelief.
What a moment.
First career hit ✅
First career home run ✅ pic.twitter.com/6FzpKK6pQP
Malloy, a sixth-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2021, was acquired by the Tigers in a trade in December 2022. Malloy was listed as the organization’s No. 7 prospect by MLB.com in 2023 and was bumped up to No. 6 earlier this spring.
Malloy went hitless in his first two career games, going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. But after his big blast Wednesday, Malloy now officially has a batting average and a souvenir from his first career homer.
TOM DIERBERGER
Tom is a writer and editor for the Breaking & Trending News Team at Sports Illustrated. In the industry since 2016, Tom joined Sports Illustrated in 2023 after working with FOX Sports, Bally Sports, and NBC Sports. Off the clock, Tom can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.
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