Julian Aguiar made his MLB debut because the Cincinnati Reds beat the Blue Jays 6-3 however Aguiar virtually didn’t make the lineup over a passport disaster.
What was the passport disaster?
Aguiar was advised he’d be making his MLB debut towards the Blue Jays, a chance that almost evaded the no. 11 prospect due to a passport disaster.
Aguiar mentioned: “He’s like, ‘Hey, is there anyone who can get your passport over right here?’” Aguiar, the Reds’ No. 11 prospect, mentioned after his massive league debut. “I’m like, ‘What do I would like my passport for?’ Then I have 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 method 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 considerable smiles.
As he approached the sector for his pregame preparations, Aguiar noticed Natalia and several other relations within the viewers, who had 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 have to 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,’” mentioned Aguiar. “Blessing, dream come true. I wouldn’t need to be anyplace else.”
His preliminary foray into the key 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 successful batter, all whereas throwing 57 pitches.
His introduction to the key 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 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,” mentioned 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 exterior and performs baseball with the children. 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 listing as a result of proper elbow discomfort on Saturday.
Though this was not essentially the most opportune circumstance for his preliminary alternative, Aguiar and the Reds embraced the scenario. The 23-year-old rookie demonstrated enough promise to benefit additional consideration.
“He got here in, threw strikes, didn’t again down in any respect — simply every little thing we find out about him,” mentioned Reds supervisor David Bell. “You by no means know what you’re going to get your first day trip … however he did precisely what we needed to see.”
What’s subsequent for Aguiar?
The Reds are well-acquainted with Aguiar, who participated within the main league camp this 12 months and carried out admirably through the Reds’ Spring Breakout victory towards the Rangers. Cincinnati is now ready to judge how shut its 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Yr is to changing into a everlasting member of its younger beginning rotation.
Up to now, 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; nonetheless, his changeup proved to be an unexpectedly efficient secondary pitch.
He’s already mapping out methods to enhance for the following one. Aguiar mentioned: “Proceed to assault the zone, get to 2 strikes early. Once I get to 2 strikes, put them away. Minimal pitches, punch them out.”
Knowledgeable demeanor is changing into more and more obvious. The Reds are nonetheless in a wait-and-see part. In response to Bell and Nick Krall, the president of baseball operations, Greene seems to have evaded a extra vital elbow harm and is anticipated to rejoin the rotation shortly because the crew continues its quest for an NL Wild Card spot. Within the meantime, Aguiar can take pleasure in this second together with his household.
“At first, folks mentioned, ‘It’ll be tough for him to attain this,’” Aguiar’s grandmother, Gloria Aguiar, mentioned 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.”
