Baseball has been introduced to its first Brazilian player and he is making his presence be felt. Yan Gomes traded his soccer cleats in for a baseball mitt and he can definitely swing a bat.
Two nights ago against the Yankees, Gomes, who turns 25 in July, became the first player from Brazil to start a baseball game. Then moments later, he became the first Brazilian player to record a hit in a baseball game. Last night, in the bottom of the second, he became the first Brazilian major leaguer to hit a home run in a game.
Gomes laced a Jonathan Niese delivery over the left field wall in front of the home crowd. It was a no doubter. He gave the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead with his solo shot and helped the Jays defeat the New York Mets 14-5.
Where did this guy come from? He was first drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 39th round of the amateur draft iin 2008 but was not signed. Then in 2009, the Jays drafted him in the 10th round and signed him up in June of that year.
He has had success in the minors every step of the way. Gomes was hitting a scortching .359 with an on-base percentage of .391. He can hit them far but has the knack of striking out quite a bit. In 131 at bats in the Minors, he struck out 26 times.
It is great for the sport of baseball to have another international star in the Majors. It is also great for the Blue Jays to continue scouting talent since their division is one of the toughest in baseball and their budget does not allow them lure in free agents like the other clubs.
