Intimations of Immortality

The Pirates have been living with some tension in left field. They have been playing journeymen there, more recently Tabata who has been serviceable but below the level that such a power position demands and there have been rumors to trade a prospect for another journeyman to help this year's team's surprising run. One option, a minor leaguer named Starling Marte who led Double A in batting last year, could be brought up.

They brought him up last night and he started his first major league game last night in Houston. On the first pitch of the game, his first major league pitch, he homered.

111 men have homered at their first major league at bat, including Hoyt Wilhelm. 29 hit their home run on the first pitch. 4 hit grand slams. Only 18 of these players went on to hit 100 or more home runs in their career.

It takes a long time before a man knows he was born under a star. After homering on his first pitch, it takes a longer time to learn you were not.