Michael Lorenzen honors late father with emotional first MLB homer
Hopefully not lost in a very exciting Friday night of baseball was this special, emotional and nearly improbable moment that happened in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen returned to this teammates for the first time since his father, Clif, died unexpectedly on Wednesday. Lorenzen had taken a couple days away, but felt getting back to work would be an important step in his grieving process.
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Reds manager Bryan Price agreed with that assessment. He wasted no time getting Lorenzen back into game action What followed was a moment that could only be scripted in Hollywood, but somehow became a reality that will never forgotten by those who experienced and witnessed it.
Lorenzo is a reliever. That means his primary job is to pitch, which he did well on Friday, holding Los Angeles over 1 2/3 innings. However, a rare opportunity to bat came about in the game’s seventh inning, and wouldn’t you know Lorenzen responded by launching his first career home run.
What an incredible moment for @Lorenzen55. ????https://t.co/3us9hnJ1YV
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 20, 2016
Lorenzen’s three-run blast helped secure a 9-2 win against the Dodgers.
The emotions at Great American Ballpark were overwhelming. Most in the stands knew of Lorenzen’s circumstances when he crossed home plate and pointed skyward. Collectively, they showed their support and appreciation by requesting a curtain call. They weren’t going to stop making noise until Lorenzen acknowledged them and allowed them to roar one more time.
It was a goosebump-inducing moment that let Lorenzen know he was in the place doing the place right thing, and not just for himself.
“Definitely, everything happens for a reason,” Lorenzen said after the game. “It was something that I look and just praise God for. It was something special, not only for me, but for my family. Everyone that’s been supporting us, I just want to say thank you for the prayers and just the support. It’s really helped out a lot, just people reaching out. It’s humbled me, this whole situation. Everything that happened tonight, I don’t think I will ever feel that way again.”
The stars aligned in a wonderful way. We know this, because it’s rare enough that a relief pitcher gets an at-bat, let alone a meaningful at-bat. Make no mistake though, Lorenzen can hit. He entered with nine career hits, all of which came as a starting pitcher in his rookie season in 2015.
No. 10 though will be one that’s impossible to top. Congratulations, Michael Lorenzen. And stay strong.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
