Weekend Special: Former Yankee Prospect Makes a Splash


Funny how when you're reading about a game, a player's name pops up, seemingly from out of left field? 

Thursday night, Padres rookie reliever Daniel Camarena was a huge part of the team's biggest ever come-from-behind rally -- but not for the reason you might think. 

The San Diego County native, kept in the game to hit for himself with the club down 8-2, came up with the bases loaded and crushed a grand slam off future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer. While it didn't quite pull the Padres even, it was vital in an historic franchise rally that eventually ended in a 9-8 "Slam Diego" victory over the Nats.

Camarena came into the game, starting the fourth inning after Yu Darvish' left hip tightened up. His night got off on the wrong foot, when he allowed Trea Turner’s second homer of the game, a two-run shot that pushed the Washington lead to 8-0. The lefty wound up working two innings, giving up just those two runs, as the Padres capped the comeback for their most thrilling W of the year.

I first saw Camarena four years ago, when he turned in an impressive start for the Yankees Double A farm team in Trenton. Not impressive enough for the Yanks, who released him after the season. He moved onto the Giants and Twins organizations, came back to the Yankees for a bit in 2019, and this year was pitching for the Padres' affiliate in El Paso when he was called up.

No one's saying Camarena is heading for stardom. Most longtime minor leaguers are happy just to get that "cup of coffee" with the big club. Still... his accomplishment was so unexpected and so incredibly rare: Camarena is only the second pitcher ever whose first major league hit was a grand slam. The first was over 120 years ago! Bill Duggleby of the Phillies on April 21st, 1898. 

So, a tip of the cap and a place of honor for his Trenton photo as Daniel Camarena becomes an unexpected headliner.


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