​DETROIT, Mich. (AP) — Eduardo Valencia etched his name into Tigers history with a moment that was as emotional as it was electric. The 26-year-old catcher became the 10th Detroit player to homer in his first major league plate appearance, lifting the Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night and sealing a series sweep. After delivering a 425-foot blast to center off Hogan Harris, Valencia celebrated by soaking in the moment, later sharing a tearful on-field thank-you to his family and to Venezuela, a country still reeling from a devastating double earthquake on June 24 that left scores dead and many more injured.
Valencia, who had been summoned from Triple-A Toledo earlier in the day with All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler sidelined by a bruised right hand, entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning for Kerry Carpenter. He delivered a pivotal hit when the Tigers needed it most, delivering contact with a calm approach and riding the wave of excitement that came with the moment. “I was waiting a lot for this, for my family, for Venezuela and I’m so excited,” Valencia said, his voice cracking as he fought back tears during a postgame on-field interview on the Tigers’ broadcast.
Valencia’s home run marked the first time a Tigers player has homered in his first big-league at-bat since Akil Baddoo accomplished the feat on April 4, 2021. As he rounded the bases, the Venezuelan native pointed to the sky, pounded his chest, and directed a nod toward his wife in the stands, culminating in a heart gesture before the couple shared a hug after the game. The moment was not only a personal triumph but a family tribute, with Valencia acknowledging that his parents could not attend his debut and that he was thinking of the Venezuelan people who have endured tragedy.
“This is for all Venezuela people,” Valencia said, expressing gratitude to his family and coaches who supported him along the way. “They gave me everything.” The celebration continued as teammates playfully dumped a bucket of water on him while fans remaining in the stands cheered loudly.
Valencia remained in the game as the Tigers’ designated hitter after his homer and was later hit by a pitch from Mark Leiter Jr. in his second plate appearance, adding to the drama of his first big-league performance. His journey from prospect to big leaguer has been a long one. Signed by Detroit in 2018 as an 18-year-old, Valencia spent eight seasons in the minors, appearing in 439 games before finally reaching the majors. He climbed through the system and reached Triple-A Toledo last year, and his big-league debut came on Thursday night after a season with Toledo that included 50 games, followed by 76 games this season in the minors.
“I mean, this is so exciting,” Valencia said. “I’m just trying to help the team to win. … I was waiting a lot for this moment. It’s so exciting. … I can’t talk right now.” The emotional debut, the long-awaited first big-league homer, and the supportive embrace of family and country made Valencia’s night one Tigers fans will remember for a long time.