Norwin grad JJ Matijevic homers for 1st MLB hit
JJ Matijevic’s first major-league hit was a home run. Because of course it was.
The Houston Astros rookie power hitter, called up for the second time this season, launched a solo homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park on Sunday night in Houston for his first career hit with the Astros.
Matijevic, a Norwin graduate, gave the Astros a 2-0 lead over the Chicago White Sox with an opposite-field blast that came with two outs in the fourth inning off of Michael Kopech.
The 26-year-old was recalled to the big leagues June 15 to replace Jeremy Pena, who went on the 10-day injured list.
The lefty designated hitter came into the game 0 for 7 with five strikeouts before his big hit. He finished this game 1 for 4 as Houston won 4-3.
Welcome to the MLB hit club, J.J! pic.twitter.com/GVjv0oE80N
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 20, 2022
WHAT A DAY FOR J.J. MATIJEVIC ????
First career MLB hit ✅
First career MLB HR ✅ pic.twitter.com/nnNqUVL8sE— ESPN (@espn) June 20, 2022
J.J. Matijevic on his first career homer pic.twitter.com/Uf68WzmJA3
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 20, 2022
The milestone baseball looks like it will end up in his possession.
A 16-year-old Astros’ fan, Ryland Freeman, caught the home run ball and the team worked out a trade with him, offering a Justin Verlander signed jersey, six tickets to a game, six batting practice access sessions and a ball autographed by Jose Altuve in return for the baseball.
Matijevic said he also would give Freeman an autographed bat.
16-year-old @RylanFreeman3, from Corpus Christi,caught JJ Matijevic’s home run ball,JJ’s 1st MLB hit & @astros traded Rylan a bunch of stuff incl a signed @JustinVerlander jersey to get it. Rylan says he wasn’t supposed to be here. His dad brought him to the game for Father’s Day pic.twitter.com/Fx9Ad4V9Ue
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) June 20, 2022
According to ESPN, here’s what the Astros fan will receive for the Matijevic ball. pic.twitter.com/86DfM4ReWE
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 20, 2022
J.J. Matijevic on the negotiations to get his first home run ball pic.twitter.com/cgQtjqmN0F
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 20, 2022
The blast was extra special to Matijevic’s father, Joe, a Jeannette fireman who could not have asked for a greater Father’s Day moment.
“It was pretty awesome. … I was going through the roof,” Joe Matijevic told Fox 26 Houston’s Mark Berman. “My neighbors probably think I’m crazy. All my friends are calling me. I got people coming over to the house. I wish I was (at the game). This is the best.”
JJ said he plans to give the ball to his dad.
Joe Matijevic, JJ’s dad, a captain in the fire dept in Jeannette, Pa, had just gotten home from work when JJ got his first Major League hit, a solo home run.Joe called that his best Father’s Day present ever: “Couldn’t ask for anything better. My heart’s going through my chest.” pic.twitter.com/S5JktHeWOI
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) June 20, 2022
JJ Matijevic’s first at-bat of the game also drew some attention when Astros’ hitting coach Alex Cintron was ejected for arguing a called third strike on Matijevic with runners on second and third and two outs.
Matijevic, who played at Arizona after winning the triple crown in the WPIAL at Norwin, has played in 39 games this season with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. He has 12 homers and 35 RBIs.
For his five-year minor-league career, he has 76 homers.
The 75th pick of the 2017 MLB Draft came in hot, going 7 for his last 14 at-bats, with three doubles, two homers and four RBIs.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
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