Reese McGuire has first 2-homer game after being called up by Cubs

CINCINNATI (AP) — For the first two months of this season, Reese McGuire didn't know when his next opportunity was going to come in the majors.

When it arrived on Sunday, he had the game of his career.

McGuire was called up by the Chicago Cubs and had his first multihomer game in the majors in an 11-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The milestone game capped what has been a hectic two-week stretch for the 30-year-old catcher, who signed another minor league deal with the Cubs on Thursday. McGuire was released on May 16 to see if he could latch on to a big league roster after a solid start for Triple-A Iowa.

“This game can battle test you for sure,” McGuire said after the victory over the Reds. “I worked really hard to be back here. I’m just thankful for this opportunity. It was a fun game.”

McGuire was promoted and added to the 40-man roster after Miguel Amaya was placed on the injured list with a left oblique strain. He is the third player to have a two-homer game in his Cubs debut, joining Jim Marshall (1958) and Earl Webb (1927).

McGuire was a late addition to the lineup after Carson Kelly was scratched due to illness. McGuire said he found out he was playing about 90 minutes before the first pitch while catching a bullpen session.

“I came back inside and started doing a normal routine to get ready,” he said.

McGuire hit .280 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 22 games with Iowa. And now, he's back in the majors.

The Cubs are his fourth team. McGuire made his big league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 before stops with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.

“In Reese’s situation, maybe you feel like something’s slipping away and you’re asked to just keep going without any promise of an opportunity. And then probably, you know, when you least expect it, you get an opportunity and maybe have the game of your life,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It's the thing that makes all these players got to keep going because you don't know when that day comes."

McGuire made an immediate contribution when he drove Nick Lodolo's fastball just over the wall in right-center to get the Cubs within 4-3 in the second. It was his first homer in the majors since May 21 of last season when he was with Boston.

“I was kind of just inside the moment when I got the two strikes,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to do too much. I just chased a slider and I kind of looked foolish on it. I knew I had to settle down and slow down the momentum.”

McGuire then tied it at 8 in the eighth by connecting on an elevated sweeper thrown by Taylor Rogers. It was part of a four-run inning that lifted the Cubs back into the lead.

Counsell said before the game that Kelly will start most of the games behind the plate, with McGuire in there at least twice during an upcoming six-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies and Reds.

McGuire then could see more work after June 3 when the Cubs begin a stretch of 26 games in 27 days.

Chicago has won four straight three-game series and leads the NL Central by two games over St. Louis.

“We knew in spring training that Reese was going to be a contributor on this team, just by the way that he controls the running game, talks to pitchers and can swing the bat,” Cubs pitcher Ben Brown said. “It took unfortunate circumstances to get him here. He's a good catcher.”

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Chicago Cubs' catcher Reese McGuire, left, and pitcher Daniel Palencia, right, celebrate after winning a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Chicago Cubs' Reese McGuire celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Chicago Cubs' Reese McGuire hits a solo home run as Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino looks on in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Chicago Cubs' Reese McGuire hits a solo home run as Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino looks on in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (AP) — Tom Latham took a close look at the pitch at Bay Oval Thursday and made the inspired decision to bat first.

Inspired ultimately because at stumps New Zealand was 334-1 against West Indies, Devon Conway was 178 not out and nightwatchman Jacob Duffy was 9.

Latham and Conway put on 323 for New Zealand's first wicket in a partnership that ended just three overs from stumps when Latham was out for 137. The partnership was New Zealand's second-highest opening stand in tests and the highest for all wickets and all teams in 2025.

Latham faced 245 balls before falling to a slip catch shortly after the arrival of the second new ball. Conway faced 279 deliveries, batted throughout the day and at stumps was approaching his highest test score — his 200 on debut against England in 2021.

Latham's decision to bat first was bold because the pitch was unusually green for Bay Oval. Bold because he had to back his play, pad up and bat first.

Inspired also because the pitch's appearance was deceptive. It was much drier under its carpet of grass than it outwardly appeared. West Indies had planned to bowl first, anyway.

“I guess we left the decision about what we were going to do a bit longer than we usually do,” Latham said. "We were going back and forth and we obviously ended up going with a spinner and decided to bat first.

“It was obviously a great day, a great partnership between Dev and myself and I'm obviously happy with the day's work.”

New Zealand captains don't usually choose to bat first after winning the toss in tests at home. The last time, before Latham took that gamble Thursday, was 14 years ago in January, 2011 when Daniel Vettori chose to bat against Pakistan at the Basin Reserve. Vettori made 110 in the first innings of that match as the gamble paid off for the captain on that occasion as well.

The last time both openers scored centuries in a test for New Zealand was in 2019 when Latham made 161 and Jeet Raval 132 against Bangladesh in Hamilton. That was an opening stand of 200 or more, of which there have been only six for New Zealand. Latham has been part of two.

At 277, Thursday's partnership between Latham and Conway became the second highest for the first wicket for New Zealand, overtaking the 276 between Stu Dempster and Jackie Mills against England at Wellington in 1930.

At 304, it became the highest partnership for any test wicket in this calendar year.

The pitch wasn't lifeless Thursday. There was seam movement early and bounce for most of the day. Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales discharged their opening spells with the new ball cheaply: Roach conceded 12 runs from six overs and Seales 10 runs from five overs.

But West Indies made the decision to select an extra batter — Alick Athanaze — at the expense of a bowler and as the New Zealand openers batted on and on, the toll on the attack of three seamers, one allrounder and one spinner became intense.

The West Indies bowled good balls throughout the day — Latham was dropped on 104 by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off Anderson Phillips — but there were not enough good balls in succession to create pressure.

Conway's century came from 147 balls and included 17 boundaries. It was the sixth century of his career, the second in his last six innings but only the third in his last 39 innings.

Latham batted with immense patience to reach his 15th test century, his second of the series, from 183 balls with nine fours and a six.

New Zealand leads the three-match series 1-0 after the first test was drawn and the Black Caps won the second by nine wickets.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand's Tom Latham bats against the West Indies on day 3 during their cricket test match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)