Christian Arroyo, the latest homegrown infielder to make a big splash at AT&T Park, joined 1050’s The Audible Thursday morning, to relive what, to this day, is certainly his biggest major-league moment.
The 21-year old launched his first career home run on Wednesday night, a two-run shot off Pedro Baez that immediately breathed life into a scuffling Giants lineup and brought the Giants to within a run of the Dodgers. It was a swing of the bat that still had Arroyo buzzing the next day.
“It was one of those moments I’ll never forget,” the rookie third baseman said. “It was truly a special moment. At that point in the game, we hadn’t really gotten anything going. But after that we kind of turned it around.”
The Giants would score two more runs to complete the comeback and secure a crucial early-season victory, one that wouldn’t have been possible without Arroyo’s disciplined, age-defying hitting approach.
“I just went into that at-bat with the approach of ‘Buster’s at first. Try and see a pitch up and drive it,’” he said. “At that moment I was just thinking about seeing a pitch over the plate I could drive.”
Once bat met ball, however, Arroyo was a rookie again.
“It took me a good step or two to realize what had just happened [once I made contact],” he laughed. “I tried slowing down…I saw all the cheering and was just trying to take that moment in. I was also trying not to miss the bag.”
Listen to the full interview below: