Julian Aguiar made his MLB debut because the Cincinnati Reds beat the Blue Jays 6-3 however Aguiar nearly didn’t make the lineup over a passport disaster.
What was the passport disaster?
Aguiar was informed he’d be making his MLB debut towards the Blue Jays, a chance that just about evaded the no. 11 prospect due to a passport disaster.
Aguiar stated: “He’s like, ‘Hey, is there anyone who can get your passport over right here?’” Aguiar, the Reds’ No. 11 prospect, stated after his large league debut. “I’m like, ‘What do I would like my passport for?’ Then I take a look at the Reds’ schedule and: worldwide. I’m like, ‘OK, I suppose it’s my time now.”
The race commenced with urgency. Aguiar’s fiancée, Natalia, traveled from their dwelling in California to Nebraska, carrying his invaluable passport. Subsequently, Aguiar made his solution to Cincinnati earlier than boarding a flight to Toronto. This whirlwind journey unfolded amidst a flurry of messages and calls from household and buddies, accompanied by nervous vitality and ample smiles.
As he approached the sphere for his pregame preparations, Aguiar noticed Natalia and several other relations within the viewers, who have been enthusiastically cheering and waving from the stands. Nevertheless, as soon as he positioned himself on the mound, Aguiar consciously inhaled deeply, recognizing that there was not any must hurry. The second had lastly arrived for him.
“It was loopy — being within the dome, as quickly as they opened it up, it’s like, ‘Wow, it’s a [much] larger stage right here,’” stated Aguiar. “Blessing, dream come true. I wouldn’t need to be anyplace else.”
His preliminary foray into the main leagues was temporary but assured, regardless of some missteps alongside the best way. Aguiar recorded two strikeouts over 4 innings, yielding two runs, 4 hits, one stroll, a wild pitch, and a success batter, all whereas throwing 57 pitches.
His introduction to the main leagues was swift, as a poorly executed slider within the first inning resulted in a big dwelling run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
“I appeared again, that ball was lengthy gone,” smiled Aguiar. “It was a superb one. Glad I gave my first one as much as him. Nice expertise to get it out of the best way.”
“He has grown into this actually quiet, very observing younger grownup — very accountable and respectful,” stated Elizabeth Aguiar, Julian’s aunt. “ … Only a down-to-earth child. [But] when he comes over, he doesn’t hang around with the adults. He goes outdoors and performs baseball with the youngsters. Yeah, he’s a giant child.”
His twin nature was instantly obvious. Aguiar’s development occurred shortly after the unlucky announcement that the Reds had positioned Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured record because of proper elbow discomfort on Saturday.
Though this was not probably the most opportune circumstance for his preliminary alternative, Aguiar and the Reds embraced the state of affairs. The 23-year-old rookie demonstrated ample promise to advantage additional consideration.
“He got here in, threw strikes, didn’t again down in any respect — simply every little thing we find out about him,” stated Reds supervisor David Bell. “You by no means know what you’re going to get your first trip … however he did precisely what we wished to see.”
What’s subsequent for Aguiar?
The Reds are well-acquainted with Aguiar, who participated within the main league camp this yr and carried out admirably throughout the Reds’ Spring Breakout victory towards the Rangers. Cincinnati is now able to judge how shut its 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Yr is to changing into a everlasting member of its younger beginning rotation.
To date, there have been no surprising developments. Aguiar predominantly utilized his sinker towards a Blue Jays lineup that sometimes doesn’t generate many swings and misses. Following Guerrero’s dwelling run, he opted to keep away from the slider; nevertheless, his changeup proved to be an unexpectedly efficient secondary pitch.
He’s already mapping out methods to enhance for the following one. Aguiar stated: “Proceed to assault the zone, get to 2 strikes early. Once I get to 2 strikes, put them away. Minimal pitches, punch them out.”
An expert demeanor is changing into more and more obvious. The Reds are nonetheless in a wait-and-see section. In accordance with Bell and Nick Krall, the president of baseball operations, Greene seems to have evaded a extra vital elbow harm and is predicted to rejoin the rotation shortly because the workforce continues its quest for an NL Wild Card spot. Within the meantime, Aguiar can take pleasure in this second along with his household.
“At first, folks stated, ‘It’ll be troublesome for him to realize this,’” Aguiar’s grandmother, Gloria Aguiar, stated in Spanish. “However I watched him and he was so devoted, so fixed with it. All I might suppose was, ‘He’s going to make it.’ And he did.”
