It was only fitting Jonah Cox would make his MLB debut on the basepaths.
The Giants’ hot-hitting outfield prospect revered for his speed had a game to remember on Sunday at Coors Field — not only because he played in the big league stadium just a 25-minute drive from his hometown of Louisville, Colo., but he also contributed to San Francisco’s 19-6 blowout win over the Colorado Rockies with a run scored and his first MLB hit.
Cox, who received a rare promotion from Double-A Richmond for Sunday’s series finale, didn’t start after flight delays forced him to spend the night at O’Hare international Airport in Chicago. He arrived in Denver at 7 a.m. and made his debut during the eighth inning of a three-hour, 38-minute game, pinch-running for Casey Schmitt and scoring from first base just a few moments later.
Cox’s first MLB hit came in the ninth, when he doubled off Brett Sullivan. It was a catcher on the mound during a blowout, but special all the same for the 24-year-old with his family in the stands. After the game, Cox used the word “surreal” several times to describe his first major league action.
“It was really cool, and it didn’t really set in until like I was out pinch running, and it was like, ‘Oh, I used to sit in those seats,” Cox told reporters. “I just feel really, really blessed.”
There were things to celebrate all around for the Giants despite how things have gone for the team lately. One day after manager Tony Vitello said they needed to have more “pride,” San Francisco snapped its five-game losing streak and avoided last place in the NL West with a win where every starter recorded a hit, drove in a run and scored one themselves.
Jung Hoo Lee stayed hot since his return from injury with the first five-hit game of his career, rookies Bryce Eldridge and Jesús Rodríguez both homered, Willy Adames crushed a grand slam, and Rafael Devers went 4-for-6 at the plate, just to name several of the many bright performance in Sunday’s bounce-back win.
Eldridge, who has started in the Giants’ last six games, also posted the first four-hit game of his young career.
Vitello expressed hope before the game that the excitement of Cox’s arrival would inject life into the clubhouse, and seeing such a dominant performance reinforced his belief that the talent is there for the Giants.
“There’s plenty to be positive about … it’s hard to sleep on what the older guys did, because a lot of them contributed in major ways,” Vitello told reporters after the win. “But seeing Jonah and Bryce doing what they did was ultra exciting.”
“Today was just kind of an explosion, and it all kind of came together,” he added.
Robbie Ray took a no decision in the win, surrendering three runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts in four innings.
For a team that has had more failure than success this season, a win like this is one that certainly could provide a spark. And for Cox, its one he’ll never forget.
As for what he’ll do with the ball from his first hit?
“I have no idea,” Cox said. “That’s a great question.”