Houston Astros' Mark Saccomanno Close To Making Dream a Reality

(Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Houston Astros prospect Mark Saccomanno fulfilled his lifelong dream on September 8, 2008 by putting on a big league uniform for the first time.

The native Houstonian spent his childhood rooting for the Astros and left a memorable impression at Minute Maid Park during his major league debut.

Saccomanno's baseball journey has taken its fair share of bumps and bruises. The six -year minor league veteran established a positive reputation by demonstrating remarkable character, a tremendous work ethic and the willingness to persevere through setbacks.

Originally, Saccomanno was not part of the group of September callups. "During the month of August, I kept dreaming of making my major league debut in my hometown in front of family and friends. It was a nightmare when I learned I wasn't on my way to Houston," Saccomanno said.

Former Astros third baseman Ty Wigginton, who signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles this offseason, suffered a groin injury in early September, prompting the organization to call up Saccomanno from Triple-A Round Rock.

He received the call at 2:30 p.m. to join the team that night for a 7:05 p.m. home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Saccomanno frantically called family and friends to deliver the exciting news and rushed to get ready for a 4:30 p.m. flight from Austin to Houston. 

Saccomanno arrived barely before game time and immediately jumped into his Astros' uniform without taking batting practice. Manager Cecil Cooper elected to use Saccomanno as a pinch hitter for starter Alberto Arias in the fifth inning. He nervously approached the plate and faced Pirates' starter Ian Snell in his first Major League at-bat.

Without a blink of an eye, Saccomanno became a household name in the city of Houston after crushing Snell's first offering into the right field bullpen for an opposite field solo home run. He rounded the bases with his father Ed, mother Cissy and former Klein Forest High School teammates cheering from the stands. 

"The strength of my game is combining a solid batting average with power. I jumped on Snell's first pitch and drove it to right field. It was strange because at Round Rock, fly balls heading to deep right tend to die in the wind. When I connected on the pitch, I raced out of the batter's box remembering the wind. By the time I rounded first, I hearded the roar of the crowd and realized what had happened," said Saccomanno.

Saccomanno solo blast snapped a scoreless tie and triggered a three-run inning to lead Houston over the Pirates 3-2. He became the fourth player in franchise history to homer in his first career at-bat and the 22nd all-time to homer on the first pitch. 

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