The 24-year-old Jerar Encarnación hit a seventh-inning grand slam in his very first MLB match to help the Miami Marlins defeat the New York Mets 6-2 at Citi Field, New York. Encarnación also threw out a runner at third base from right field and stole a base.
The 6-foot-5 outfielder threw out and tried to stretch the third-inning single into a double. He hit the drive over Tomás Nido off the right-field wall. Encarnación hit his first two bats and ran over to home base with Alcantara to secure a 1-0 lead in the seventh.Thrilled by the hit, Encarnación raised his right arm before giving the Marlins a 4-1 lead with his grand slam.
Thrilled by the hit, Encarnación raised his right arm before giving the Marlins a 4-1 lead with his grand slam.
Hitting grand slam in first match
Encarnación signed with the Marlins in 2014 and started his career in the minors in 2016.
Heading into the 2020 season, he hit a grand slam over Washington Nationals’ Sterling Sharpe to take the AFL Championship title.
Previously a No. 16 prospect, he fell to 22 after an incident in the 2021 season where he injured his right knee. When he was chasing a foul ball with his left hand, he hit a metal pole and hurt his knee.
In the 2022 comeback, Encarnación homered for Jacksonville on May 17 in his Triple-A debut. He joined Marlin’s Double-A affiliate, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, after his performance of a total of 13 homers hit in the year.
Wearing No. 64 in his Marlins’ debut, the outfielder struck out and grounded out in his first two at-bats.
Marlins hitting coach Marcus Thames gave him tips in the following play. He hit a 92.6 mph fastball 371 feet away over Mets’ Seth Lugo onto the opposite side over the right-field wall.
The pitcher said Encarnación did well with the pitch, adding that he was certain it was safe but Encarnación hit it anyway.
“Threw a pretty good backdoor sinker, and he just went with it,” Lugo said.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly said that Encarnación demonstrated a good display in Sunday’s game.
“He kind of showed the whole package today, from the standpoint of his defense, he runs pretty good, got the power,” Mattingly said.
“I’ve always compared him, and it’s probably not even close to being fair, to Vladdy (Guerrero) Sr.”
Encarnación became the first player since 1901 to record a grand slam in a first MLB game. He also became the second Miami player with a grand slam for his first major hit after Jeremy Hermida recorded a similar feat against St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alberto Reyes on August 31, 2005.
Alcantara promises to buy Encarnación ‘something’
Miami Marlins teammate pitcher Sandy Alcantara told Encarnación a promise when he played in his big league debut on Sunday night. He promised the 24-year-old outfielder anything he wanted if he record a hit or homer.
“I told him if you get a hit or a homer, I’m going to buy something,” Alcantara said on the way back to the hotel on Friday.
“Anything he wants,” the pitcher added.