Tigers' emotional Eduardo Valencia thanks family, honors Venezuela after he homers in 1st MLB at-bat

DETROIT (AP) — Eduardo Valencia made some history for the Detroit Tigers, got emotional while thanking his family and home country of earthquake-rocked Venezuela and then celebrated after the game with a hug from his wife on the field.

The 26-year-old catcher became the 10th Detroit player to homer in his first career plate appearance, helping the Tigers to a 4-1 victory over the Athletics on Thursday night that completed a series sweep.

“I was waiting a lot for this, for my family, for Venezuela and I’m so excited,” Valencia said as his voice cracked and he fought back tears during an on-field interview on the Tigers' broadcast after the game.

Valencia was called up from Triple-A Toledo earlier in the day with All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler recovering from a bruised right hand. Valencia entered as a pinch-hitter for Kerry Carpenter in the seventh inning against Hogan Harris and sent a 425-foot shot to center to cap the scoring for Detroit.

"I was just thinking, like, I was trying to hit (with) contact," Valencia said. “Get a good pitch, just be the most calm that I can do it. I was so excited.”

He's the first Tigers player to homer in his first big-league at-bat since Akil Baddoo on April 4, 2021.

The native of Valencia, Venezuela, pointed to the sky and pounded his chest as he rounded the bases with a huge smile, then pointed to his wife in the stands and made a heart symbol with his hands. He later gave her a big hug after the game.

Valencia's thoughts were also with his parents, who couldn't make the trip to see his debut, and the people of Venezuela, who are recovering from a rare double earthquake on June 24 that killed at least 920 and injured another 3,360, authorities said. Many more are feared dead.

“This is for all Venezuela people,” Valencia said of his big debut, thanking his family and coaches. “They gave me everything.”

A couple of Valencia's happy teammates then dumped a bucket of water on him as the fans remaining in the stands cheered.

Valencia, who stayed in the game as the Tigers’ designated hitter after his homer, was hit by a pitch from Mark Leiter Jr. in his second plate appearance.

Valencia was signed by the Tigers in 2018 as an 18-year-old player and he appeared in 439 games over eight-plus seasons in the minors before making his big league debut Thursday night. He didn't reach the Triple-A level until last year, when he played in 50 games with Toledo, and then appeared in 76 games this season.

“I mean, this is so exciting,” Valencia said. “I'm just trying to help the team to win. ... I was waiting a lot (time) for this moment. It's so exciting. ... I can't talk right now.”

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Detroit Tigers' Eduardo Valencia, right, reacts to hitting a home run as Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, left, looks on during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Eduardo Valencia is doused by water after a baseball game against the Athletics Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Eduardo Valencia reacts to hitting a home run against the Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Eduardo Valencia rounds first base after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Nolan Arenado homered and moved closer to 2,000 hits, and Merrill Kelly combined with two relievers on a three-hitter for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 on Thursday night to split a four-game series.

The Diamondbacks and Padres are jockeying for second place in the NL West, well behind the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona popped back into a tie with San Diego, 14 1/2 games behind the idle Dodgers.

Arenado homered to left field off Yuki Matsui with two outs in the sixth, his 11th of the season and 364th of his 14-year career. He's six shy of becoming the sixth active player to reach 2,000 hits. He's in his first season with Arizona after spending five with St. Louis and his first eight with Colorado.

The Southern California native has 17 homers at Petco Park, the most by a visiting player. He's reached base safely in 25 of his last 26 games at the downtown ballpark since Sept. 1, 2018.

Kelly (7-8) quieted the Padres a night after they won 10-4. He held San Diego to one run and three hits in seven innings, with six strikeouts and three walks. Kevin Ginkel pitched a perfect eighth and Paul Sewald a perfect ninth for his 21st save.

Kelly’s only big mistake was allowing Manny Machado’s homer to right leading off the second. It was Machado’s 19th overall and fifth in 11 games. Machado was back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday, a night after fouling a ball off his left big toe.

Geraldo Perdomo's RBI single with two outs in the fifth gave Arizona a 2-1 lead and chased starter Griffin Canning (1-7). A wild pitch by Canning brought in Arizona's first run, in the fourth.

Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-3, 2.25 ERA) is scheduled to start opposite Dodgers RHP Shohei Ohtani (8-2, 1.79) on Friday night in Los Angeles. Padres LHP JP Sears (2-1, 4.70 ERA) is scheduled to start against Toronto at home on Friday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off San Diego Padres' Yuki Matsui in the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Yuki Matsui works against an Arizona Diamondbacks' batter in the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo, second from right, congratulates Nolan Arenado (28) as manager Torey Lovullo, right, watches after Arenado hit a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado, gestures as he crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)