Hunter Feduccia joined the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 19 when Austin Barnes landed on the 10-day injured list. After filling the backup catcher role for five days, he finally got to start on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Although Feduccia already made his MLB debut on July 31, pinch-hitting in the final at-bat of the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, he had yet to make a start with the Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts had Feduccia in the lineup in order to give Will Smith a day of rest, and he liked that rookie has had plenty of experience catching Gavin Stone while both were in the Minor Leagues. With Feduccia making his first start, Roberts was “excited” to see what the young backstop could do.
“I don’t think this moment is going to be too big for him, and the guys like him,” Roberts said before the game. “So I think that for me, it’s somebody I trust. He’s been in the organization a long time, understands what we do as an organization, as a pitching staff, and like I said, I feel good about the battery today.”
It’s rare that a player gets called up, only to be sent back down before making their first start. But that was the path Feduccia found himself on, and said getting his first start felt like his MLB debut all over again.
“Yeah, 100%,” Feduccia began.
“Going out there, first pitch, I was taking in the whole atmosphere of it. It was a dream come true, for sure.”
Feduccia ended up drawing a walk in the third inning, marking the first time he’s been on base in his career. In the seventh, he singled to right field against Drew Rasmussen.
“It was awesome,” Feduccia said of his first hit. “Going into it, I thought I was facing Shane Baz, and then got to the field and heard it was a lefty. I was getting ready for Shane and then heard that news, but it was good. Settled in first at-bat and got a walk, so that was refreshing.”
Feduccia also called a great game behind the plate, helping Stone work an excellent outing of seven innings pitched with seven strikeouts and just one run allowed.
“It’s awesome,” Stone said. “He’s one of my best friends in this organization and he has been for a while. Just to be a part of his special day was pretty cool.”
The 27-year-old from Louisiana also had his family in attendance, who Feduccia described as “very emotional.”
“My mom, I’m sure got on camera. She was trying to keep it together the whole game,” he said. “Girlfriend, I’m sure everyone was emotional. I’m glad they made it. It was an awesome day.”
Hunter Feduccia first hit ball
As is tradition for players. Feduccia got the ball back from his first hit, and already has his plans on what to do with it.
“I’ll probably give it to my dad,” Feduccia said. “He wants to hang it up. Once I get a house, I’ll probably hang it up on my wall and cherish it forever.”
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