The Texas Rangers prospect overcame early nerves and a fielding error to ignite a late-inning rally, tripling and scoring twice to fuel a crucial victory over the Cleveland Guardians.
Second baseman Cameron Cauley not only recorded his first big league hit, but he scored two runs and drew a walk as well.
Even with a fielding error going against him, this was a tremendous debut for the Texas Rangers prospect as the team improved to 43-42 in a 6-3 victory on ESPN over the Cleveland Guardians.
Cauley had to earn his first hit in the majors, but after a pair of at-bats, he was clearly ready for what the Guardians were throwing his way.
It's not like Cauley's performance single-handedly guided the Rangers to victory, but he touched home and was a huge boost in the final three innings which is when the team needed him the most.
Cameron Cauley's First Two Big League At-Bats
Before getting to the triple, Cauley was quickly humbled in the third inning. 25-year-old Parker Messick battled against the 23-year-old prospect, and it was Messick who won a very short battle.
In his first big-league at bat, Cauley fouled out to first base on just a pair of pitches. He watched a 78 mph curveball land for a strike, then fouled out on a 93 mph four-seam fastball.
After committing a fielding error in the bottom of the fourth, Cauley had a chance to avenge himself in the top of the fifth. Ultimately, it was deja vu. Messick was able to get Cauley to record an out in two pitches. This time, he fouled off a 92 mph four-seamer then grounded out on an 85 mph changeup.
Cauley Triples in his Third At-Bat, Later Scores
Even with Messick still in the game, Cauley wasn't messing around. On the first pitch he saw in the top of the seventh, Cauley tripled on an 84 mph changeup. Clearly, his approach was attack, attack, attack. Cauley didn't wait around for much this game, but that would end up changing in the ninth.
Cauley's first big league run was recorded in his debut as Nicky Lopez singled him in five pitches later.
Four-Pitch Walk, Comes Around to Score Again
After being so aggressive in his first three at-bats, Cauley watched four straight four-seamers miss the zone. Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski was not on his game, and that contributed to a pair of runs coming across in the ninth, Cauley being one of them.
Cauley may have came up short in his first two big league at-bats, but the two he had late against the Guardians proved the Rangers were justified to call him up when they did.
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