In Monday night’s matchup against the Houston Astros, perennial minor league player Guilder Rodriguez recorded three career milestones, ESPN reports.
Rodriguez, 31, started at third base and notched his first Major League hit, run scored and RBI.
In his first at-bat of the game, Rodriguez roped a fastball to shallow left field, but his shining moment came later in the game.
Rodriguez broke a seventh-inning tie with his second hit of the night, with his family on-hand to witness the greatest moment of his professional career.
A beaming Rodriguez had this to say of his performance:
“This is one of the best moments of my life: My first big league hit, my first RBI, my father in the stands, my wife. This is my second-best moment, after my two daughters were born.”
In September, MLB teams are allowed to add additional minor league players to their rosters in order to safeguard their stars from injury and to prepare for the playoffs. One of the most heartwarming parts of the season comes with these fall call-ups, as it gives journeymen players, like Guilder, the opportunity to live out life-long dreams.
Rodriguez has only played with one other organization in his 13-year career and spent time in the minors with five of last night’s starting players, including the Rangers’ star shortstop, Elvis Andrus, who capped off the night by showering Rodriguez with a post-game Gatorade bath.