For millions of young kids around the world, growing to play in the MLB is a lifelong dream. On Thursday night, former Alabama outfielder Andrew Pinckney made that dream a reality, making his Major League debut with the Washington Nationals.
Pinckney played for the Crimson Tide for four years before being selected No. 102 overall in the fourth round by the Nationals in the 2023 MLB Draft.
On Tuesday, Pinckney and the Rochester Red Wings, the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate, were in Scranton, Pa., playing the Yankees Triple-A team, the RailRiders, preparing like it was any other day. Then Nationals manager Blake Butera made a surprise visit to the away team clubhouse at PNC Field in Moosic,, Pennsylvania, two hours away from where the Nationals were playing at Citizens Bank Park, to tell Pinckney he was being called up.
“I was just focused on Scranton and who they had over there and then had to play the Phillies,” Pinckney said. “That was pretty crazy. I guess that’s how life works.”
Pinckney has big shoes to fill as he was called up to replace All-Star outfielder James Wood after he was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain on Tuesday. Butera had zero doubt that Pinckney was talented enough to be in the big leagues.
“Seeing what he’s able to do on the baseball field is pretty special,” Butera said. “He’s able to do some things that not many in this game can do because of the type of athlete that he is. Now it’s going to be about consistency and if he can put it all together.”
In 94 games in Triple-A, Pinckney put together a solid campaign, hitting .271, with 13 home runs, 51 RBIs, a .770 OPS and 18 stolen bases.
“He was playing great,” Butera said. “I think the outfield defense is what stands out the most. He was hitting the ball really hard. Stole a ton of bases so far this year. Just a dynamic player that can bring a lot of different things to us.”
Pinckney made his MLB debut on Wednesday night as a pinch runner in the top of the 10th inning in the Nationals’ 10-4 win and came around to score on a bases-loaded walk from Nasim Nuñez. Pinckney’s first career at bat would have to wait until the following night; that wait was well worth it.
On Thursday, in Pinckney’s first MLB start, Butera penciled him into the starting lineup batting sixth and playing left field, and he was tasked with facing Phillies ace and NL Cy Young contender Christopher Sanchez.
In Pinckney’s first at-bat against Sanchez in the top of the second inning, he grounded out to third base on the first pitch he saw to officially kick off his Major League career. In the bottom half of the second inning, Pinckney showed off his abilities on defense. Trea Turner laced a double off the left field wall with a runner on first and Pinckney made a perfect relay throw into CJ Abrams, who fired it home to gun down the runner trying to score, giving Pinckney his first career outfield assist.
Then, in the top of the fourth inning came the highlight of Pinckney’s debut. With Pinckney ahead in the count 3-1, Sanchez left a sinker too much in the zone and Pinckney didn’t miss it, blasting it 400 feet the other way into the bleachers in right-center field to give him his first career home run, RBI and hit.
Pinckney’s night came to an end in the top of the sixth inning as Daylen Lile pinch-hit for him to end a successful MLB debut, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an outfield assist. Pinckney became the 75th University of Alabama player to make it to the MLB.
“Personality-wise, he’s one of the greatest kids I’ve had the chance to meet and get to know a little bit,” Butera said.
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