Former BYU Baseball Signee Payton Henry Collects First MLB Hit In Debut
Sep 17, 2021, 11:02 PM
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 17: Colin Moran #19 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is thrown out at home plate in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 17, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Pleasant Grove High star catcher and BYU baseball signee Payton Henry made his MLB debut on Friday night. It was memorable for the Utah County native.
In July, a 6th round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2016 MLB Draft, Henry was acquired by the Miami Marlins organization in a trade. Then on Friday, he was called up to the Bigs.
Bienvenido to the show, Payton. @budweiserusa // #JuntosMiami pic.twitter.com/b7MMiVc6xg
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 17, 2021
Henry was slotted in the seventh spot on the Marlins lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates and catching for Elieser Hernandez.
The former Gatorade Player of the Year in Utah, Henry had his first MLB at-bat in the bottom of the 2nd inning. However, he struck out swinging after a seven-pitch duel with Pirates pitcher Wil Crowe.
Henry returned to the plate to start the lineup for Miami in the bottom of the 5th. In an 0-1 count, Henry blasted Crowe’s pitch to deep center off the wall for a double, giving the former Pleasant Grove star his first MLB hit.
Payton Henry pulverizes this off the CF wall for his first career hit 💪 pic.twitter.com/agRG10m0mW
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) September 18, 2021
He ended the night 1-for-4 in his pro debut. The Marlins fell short in Henry’s first Major League action, falling to the Pirates 2-1.
“It’s a dream come true just like I’m sure every guy feels,” Henry said to the media in the postgame. “But man, a lot of emotions. Definitely, a long road to get here. But, man, I’m grateful and blessed and I’m just so happy.”
This season has been a wild ride for Henry. At the beginning of the season, he began the year in Double-A ball with the Biloxi Shuckers, then moved up to Triple-A with the Nashville Sounds for 19 games before moving to the Marlins organization as part of the Jacksonville Jump Shrimp’s rotation.
Henry and the Marlins are back in action tomorrow for the second of a three-game series with the Pirates on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. in Florida.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
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