Yasiel Puig deserves all the praise from last night, but it would be a shame to overlook John Mayberry. Entering the game in the late innings as a pinch-hitter, Mayberry ended the night with two home runs. The first tied the game up in the bottom of the tenth and the second won the game in the bottom of the eleventh. There aren't many ways to have a better night than that.
Let's get to the trots.
Home Run of the Day: Yasiel Puig #2, Los Angeles Dodgers – 16.91 seconds [video]
So far…
Puig is the 22 year old Cuban prospect in the Dodgers system who made his major league debut Monday night. He "only" managed to go 2-for-4 in his major league debut while also ending the game by doubling off a runner at first from the warning track. Seriously. Puig helped win the game in his first ever big league game by throwing a guy out from 200+ feet away. What a way to start your career. (Watch the throw yourself.)
Game number two has been even better. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Puig hit his first major league home run, a three-run blast that tied the game at five. He raced home on this trot in only 17.4 seconds. The 17.4 second trot is one of the ten fastest first-career trots recorded by the Tater Trot Tracker, putting Puig squarely in line with the likes of Bryce Harper and Eric Thames. Was that due to some extra excitement at hitting his first career blast, or was it a hint at what to expect from Puig in the future? It only took one more inning to find out. In the bottom of the sixth, Puig took an offering the other way, barely clearing the fence in right. Remarkably, he was even faster this time around, sprinting home in only 16.91 seconds! As of today, that is good for the fifth quickest trot of the season.
If he keeps this up, there's a good chance Puig will be supplanting Adam Rosales as my favorite trotter. Not that I'd be all alone on the Puig bandwagon then… Here's hoping!
Slowest Trot: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels – 25.48 seconds [video]
Sorry Albert, but you can't blame this one on a bad foot. That was all about you savoring the moment as the ball sailed over the fence. Mark Teixeira had the second slowest trot of the night on his ball down the line in Yankee Stadium.
Quickest Trot: Yasiel Puig #2, Los Angeles Dodgers – 16.91 seconds [video]
Puig with the two quickest trots of the day. Shocker. In fact, it was a pretty speedy day around the league, with five other players giving us 18-second trots (including A.J. Pollock). Jackie Bradley Jr. also had his first career home run on Tuesday. His 18.96 second trot would have been much quicker if he didn't get slowed down by the runner ahead of him shortly before reaching home plate.
All of Today's Trots Albert Pujols..........25.48 Yoenis Cespedes #2.....21.37 Mark Teixeira..........24.68 Pedro Alvarez..........21.1 Allen Craig............24.06 Edwin Encarnacion......20.67 Troy Tulowitzki........23.57 Jeff Baker.............20.04 Mitch Moreland.........23.05* Stephen Drew...........20.02* Prince Fielder.........23.01 Shane Robinson.........19.88 Omar Infante...........22.98 Mike Carp..............19.76 Danny Valencia.........22.54 Raul Ibanez............19.66 Nelson Cruz............22.44 John Mayberry #1.......19.57 Ryan Doumit............22.41 Kyle Blanks............19.39 John Mayberry #2.......22.16* Chris Denorfia.........19.27 Brandon Barnes.........22.03 Jackie Bradley Jr......18.96 Carlos Quentin.........21.92* Andres Torres..........18.72 Gaby Sanchez...........21.84 Ian Desmond............18.62 Drew Stubbs............21.83 B.J. Upton.............18.62 Tim Federowicz.........21.83 A.J. Pollock...........18.4 Adam Dunn..............21.72 Yasiel Puig #1.........17.4 Jarrod Saltalamacchia..21.64 Yasiel Puig #2.........16.91 Yoenis Cespedes #1.....21.52
Click here for the ongoing 2013 Tater Trot Tracker Leaderboard. You can also follow @TaterTrotTrkr on Twitter for more up-to-the-minute trot times.
