Toronto Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia gets a hug from his mom Irene Arenciba at the end of their American League MLB baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Toronto August 7, 2010. Arencibia hit two home runs, a double and a single in his first major league start. REUTERS/Fred ThornhillFRED THORNHILL/Reuters
J.P. Arencibia went rooting around in the back of his cluttered clubhouse locker on Sunday and finally emerged with the three baseballs that will forever define a remarkable major-league debut for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The now prized possessions were all carefully labelled - home run No. 1 and home run No. 2 and first double - and the 24-year-old catcher said they will find a prominent spot in his trophy case along with the other countless baseball bric-a-brac he has collected.
"But these are the ones that matter right here," Arencibia said in reverent tones.
Playing in his first Major League game on Saturday, Arencibia clubbed the first pitch in his first at-bat against Tampa Bay starter James Shields and deposited it in the left-field bleachers for a home run.
It was the first of two home runs that Arencibia would tally during a memorable showing in which he also singled and doubled in five at-bats while driving in three runs as the Blue Jays hammered Tampa Bay 17-11.
"I couldn't ever have imagined this - ever," Arencibia said after the game,
And how could he.
With his performance, Arencibia became just the fifth player in baseball's modern age (dating back to 1900) to swat two home runs and total four hits in their Major League debut.
He becomes just the fifth player in baseball history to count two homers in his first game and the 107th player to homer in his first career big-league at-bat.
His blasts were among eight home runs that the Blue Jays tallied on Saturday, the second highest single-game total in team history.
Aaron Hill also added a pair with solo shots going to Edwin Encarnacion, Lyle Overbay, Adam Lind and Major League-leader Jose Bautista, who now has 34 on the season.
The 21st selection overall in the 2007 first year player draft, Arencibia was one of the leading home run hitters in the minors this season when he was called up on Wednesday after regular catcher John Buck cut his thumb in a game against the New York Yankees.
Arencibia was back on the bench for Sunday's game but is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday when the Boston Red Sox begin the first of a three-game set in Toronto.
"This game you never want to get too high," Arencibia said. "I learned early, last year, that it's a game that will humble you real fast."