Two Days After Release by White Sox, Former All-Star Homers in Padres Debut
A 31-year-old outfielder smashed a two-run pinch hit home run in the eighth inning of his first game with his new club.
Former All-Star Austin Hays made an impressive debut with the San Diego Padres only two days after being released by the Chicago White Sox. Called up as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of the Padres' 7-2 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday, Aug. 9, Hays delivered a two-run home run. The 32-year-old, who signed a major league contract with the Padres earlier that day, expressed his excitement about the swing.
Hays, who previously played primarily as a center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles, has exclusively played left and right field for the past three seasons at the major league level. His previous MLB season with the Cincinnati Reds saw him perform better against left-handed pitchers, while the Padres will need a strong performance from him to crack the National League Wild Card spot, currently held by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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