{"id":656342,"date":"2026-04-01T10:15:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/656342\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T10:15:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:15:44","slug":"jose-fernandez-has-finest-major-league-debut-in-arizona-diamondbacks-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/656342\/","title":{"rendered":"Jose Fernandez has finest major-league debut in Arizona Diamondbacks history"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 One day, he\u2019s waking up in Reno, Nevada, and is told he\u2019s going to the big leagues.<\/p>\n

The next, Jose Fernandez<\/a> is celebrating the greatest day of his 22-year-old life, with his teammates dousing him with beer and everything else they could find for their overnight hero, who Tuesday night produced the finest major-league debut in Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> history.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Fernandez, ranked as only the 27th-best prospect in the Diamondbacks<\/a> organization, became the eighth player in major-league history to hit two home runs in his debut, with the last one a game-winning, three-run homer in the eighth inning off future Hall of Famer Kenley Jansen in the Diamondbacks\u2019 dramatic comeback 7-5<\/a> victory over the Detroit Tigers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrateful, grateful to God,\u2019\u2019 Fernandez said. \u201cMore than I could have expected. … Just a dream come true.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

This is a kid who was signed as an international player out of Venezuela at the age of 17, spent the past four years in the lower minor leagues, never advancing past Class AA until spending one day at Triple-A this year. He had a strong enough minor league season last year, slashing .272\/.321\/454 with 17 homers to be placed on the 40-man roster, and opened eyes this spring hitting .280 with an .840 OPS, and three doubles, a triple and three home runs in 25 at-bats.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was impressive this spring,\u2019\u2019 Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfadt said, \u201cso we figured we\u2019d see him at some point.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

1 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Citizens Bank Park \u2014 Philadelphia Phillies<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

1 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Citizens Bank Park \u2014 Philadelphia Phillies<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Yankee Stadium \u2014 New York Yankees<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

3 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Progressive Field \u2014 Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

4 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

LoanDepot Park \u2014 Miami Marlins<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

5 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Rogers Centre \u2014 Toronto Blue Jays<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

6 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Nationals Park \u2014 Washington Nationals<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

7 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Petco Park \u2014 San Diego Padres<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

8 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

T-Mobile Park \u2014 Seattle Mariners<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

9 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Fenway Park \u2014 Boston Red Sox<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

10 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Comerico Park \u2014 Detroit Tigers<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

11 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Coors Field \u2014 Colorado Rockies<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

12 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

PNC Park \u2014 Pittsburgh Pirates<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

13 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Citi Field \u2014 New York Mets<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

14 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Truist Park \u2014 Atlanta Braves<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

15 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Great American Ball Park \u2014 Cincinnati Reds<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

16 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Wrigley Field \u2014 Chicago Cubs<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

17 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Dodger Stadium \u2014 Los Angeles Dodgers<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

18 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Guaranteed Rate Field \u2014 Chicago White Sox<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

19 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

American Family Field \u2014 Milwaukee Brewers<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

20 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Target Field \u2014 Minnesota Twins<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

21 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Angel Stadium \u2014 Los Angeles Angels<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

22 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Busch Stadium \u2014 St. Louis Cardinals<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

23 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Kauffman Stadium \u2014 Kansas City Royals<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

24 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Sutter Health Park (Sacramento) – Athletics<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

25 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Tropicana Field \u2014 Tampa Bay Rays<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

26 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Oriole Park at Camden Yards \u2014 Baltimore Orioles.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

27 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Minute Maid Park \u2014 Houston Astros<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

28 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Globe Life Field \u2014 Texas Rangers<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

29 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Chase Field \u2014 Arizona Diamondbacks<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

30 \/ 30<\/p>\n

Green Cathedrals: Photo journey through all 30 MLB stadiums<\/p>\n

Oracle Park \u2014 San Francisco Giants<\/p>\n

Just not in the first week of the season, playing in place of Nolan Arenado, and putting on one of the greatest hitting exhibitions in a debut in baseball history. He stepped to the plate in the second inning and reached base on an infield single off Tigers starter Casey Mize. He took Mize deep in the fourth inning on a 408-foot homer. And in the eighth, with two outs and two runners on with the D-backs trailing 5-4, he started to walk to the plate. He stopped when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch went to the mound and summoned Jansen, who has 477 career saves, just one shy of Lee Smith for third-place on the all-time saves list<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was a unique look against a very young hitter,\u2019\u2019 Hinch said, \u201cwho I know was going to be in swing mode would be a tough matchup for him.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Fernandez walked back to the dugout and was summoned by D-backs veterans Carlos Santanta and James McCann. They told him to watch out for Jansen\u2019s funky delivery.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just tried to talk to him about what kind of movement on the ball Kenley would be throwing,\u2019\u2019 Santanta said. \u201cHe\u2019s tough. I just told him to be calm. He can do it.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo: \u201cThey prepared him the best way they could. And the thing about Jose is that he wasn\u2019t panicking. He wanted to see a pitch, see what they were talking about, and then zeroed in on it. That\u2019s a very mature approach.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Fernandez watched Jansen throw a first-pitch cutter over the plate for strike 1. He watched the second pitch for ball 1, another cutter below his knees. Jansen threw another cutter, this one up in the strike zone, and Fernandez sent it 409 feet over the left-field fence for a three-run homer.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot the location I wanted,\u2019\u2019 Jansen said, \u201cbut sometimes you come in with no room for error, it\u2019s tough. Give credit to him. He put the ball in play and the ball went out.”<\/p>\n

The Chase Field crowd erupted, and Pfaadt was back in the clubhouse screaming with the players and clubhouse attendants.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody in here was jumping up and down,\u2019\u2019 Pfaadt said. \u201cSpecial day for the whole team, especially him and his family. We all cheered for him when he came in. It was really cool.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The celebration was so emotional and lasted so long that D-backs manager Torey Lovullo had to tear himself away just to attend the press conference. They were down 5-1 entering the eighth inning, and then a guy who was called up only because first baseman Pavin Smith went on the injured list with elbow inflammation, fulfills a childhood dream.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a day for him,\u2019\u2019 Mize said. \u201cIt\u2019ll be a part of his story for his whole life, which is unfortunate for me.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

But one that could be remembered for an awful long time in D-backs folklore.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a good moment for this team, this organization,\u2019\u2019 Lovullo said, \u201cfor all the people that have been around Jose pushing him, teaching him, and then ultimately it falls on Jose to go out there and let it all shine.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re so proud of him. He\u2019s a player that came through or system, through our academy, and it\u2019s a great story.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great baseball story.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Jose<\/p>\n

Jose Fernandez celebrates hitting a three-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning at Chase Field on March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n

One that Fernandez can\u2019t wait to share with his family back home in Venezuela, knowing that for a country who took great pride in winning the World Baseball Classic<\/a>, they now have another reason to celebrate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankful for the opportunity,” Fernandez said. \u201cIt’s a dream I’ve had ever since I was five years old, and just thankful for the opportunity that was given to me.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

He was hoping that he could have shared the joy of being on that WBC championship team, but he wasn\u2019t invited. Instead, he spent the spring opening a whole lot of eyes, paving the way for the most glorious night of his young baseball career.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u2019\u2019 Fernandez said, \u201chopefully …”<\/p>\n

Yet, before he could even finish his answer, Diamondbacks teammate Eduardo Rodriguez, and the starting pitcher in Venezuela\u2019s 3-2 championship victory over Team USA, jumped in and provided the answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, he\u2019ll be at the next one all right,\u2019\u2019 Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n

Hey, with nights like these, Fernandez just might find himself playing third base for Venezuela in the 2028 Olympics, too.<\/p>\n

And, if you\u2019re Fernandez, why stop dreaming now?<\/p>\n

Follow Bob Nightengale on\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0and X\u00a0@Bnightengale<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jose Fernandez has incredible MLB debut in Diamondbacks win vs. Tigers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHOENIX \u2014 One day, he\u2019s waking up in Reno, Nevada, and is told he\u2019s going to the big…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":656343,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2404],"tags":[146,22,4314,5,83866,399,53,38,756,6468,1198,62568,132,4,1028,352,834,638,8814],"class_list":{"0":"post-656342","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arizona-diamondbacks","8":"tag-arizona","9":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","10":"tag-arizonadiamondbacks","11":"tag-baseball","12":"tag-carlos-santanta","13":"tag-casey-mize","14":"tag-detroit-tigers","15":"tag-diamondbacks","16":"tag-eduardo-rodriguez","17":"tag-eighth-inning","18":"tag-james-mccann","19":"tag-jose-fernandez","20":"tag-kenley-jansen","21":"tag-mlb","22":"tag-nolan-arenado","23":"tag-pavin-smith","24":"tag-pfaadt","25":"tag-torey-lovullo","26":"tag-venezuela"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116328934109673557","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=656342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/656343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=656342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=656342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=656342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}