In the wake of All-Star shortstop Wander Franco’s indefinite administrative leave, the Tampa Bay Rays found an unexpected hero in 22-year-old rookie Osleivis Basabe.
The young player, who was called up from Triple-A Durham just nine days ago, stepped up to the plate in a big way on Tuesday night, hitting his first career home run, a grand slam, that led the Rays to a 12-4 victory over the Rockies.
Basabe’s grand slam, which highlighted a nine-run eighth inning, was a pivotal moment in the game, helping the Rays rally from a 4-3 deficit.
The victory marked the Rays’ second consecutive win, their fourth in the past five games, and their 13th in the last 20.
However, it also marked their 25th come-from-behind win of the season, a significant achievement as they continue to chase a playoff spot.
“I am very happy for the opportunity that the Rays gave me to be here,” Basabe said through team interpreter Manny Navarro. “I’m having as much fun as I can, and hopefully I can still stay up here as long as I can.”
Basabe’s grand slam came in his second at-bat of the eighth inning, following singles by Jose Siri and Basabe himself, a walk by Curtis Mead, and a game-tying pinch-hit single by Christian Bethancourt.
Yandy Diaz’s third hit of the night gave the Rays the lead, which was further extended by Randy Arozarena’s two-run single and Isaac Paredes’ double.
Basabe’s grand slam made him the third player in club history to hit a grand slam for his first career home run, joining Wil Myers (June 22, 2013, at the Yankees) and Jorge Velandia (Sept. 25, 2007, at the Yankees). He is also the third rookie in the big leagues to achieve this feat this season.
In the eight games since his call-up, Basabe has been hitting .303 with three doubles, a home run, and eight RBIs.
Well, his impressive performance comes as a blessing for the Rays, who have been dealing with the fallout from allegations of inappropriate relationships involving Franco.
Despite the off-field distractions, the Rays have managed to keep their focus on the game, with players like Basabe stepping up to fill the void.
As the Rays continue their pursuit of a playoff spot, they will undoubtedly be hoping for more standout performances from their rising stars.
