It was the moment Tyler O鈥橬eill has long dreamt about 鈥� making his Major League debut 鈥� and it became a reality over the weekend.
鈥淪urreal moment. I will never forget my first time at Wrigley (Field),鈥� O鈥橬eill said via direct message on Twitter on Saturday night.
鈥淓ven though the results didn鈥檛 turn out the way I鈥檇 hoped and expected, getting experience is the most important part.
"I've been working my whole life to get to this point." -
鈥� St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals)
He was referring to striking out as a pinch-hitter in his first career at-bat.
鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting my whole life to get to this point,鈥� O鈥橬eill said.
O鈥橬eill was called up to the majors last week by the St. Louis Cardinals for the final game of their series in Chicago against the Cubs before the team hosted the Cincinnati Reds.
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The 22-year-old is hitless in five at-bats but did drive in a run with a sacrifice fly on Sunday against the Reds in his first career start.
O鈥橬eill 鈥� who is from Maple Ridge and played with the 91原创 Blaze Premier (18U) program 鈥� was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. The Cardinals acquired the power-hitting outfielder in July.
After starting the season at the Triple-A level with the Memphis Redbirds, O鈥橬eill was leading the Pacific Coast League with 18 RBIs and was tied for the league-lead with six home runs and nine of his 19 hits were for extra-bases.
And it was fellow Canadian Stubby Clapp 鈥� the Redbirds鈥� manager 鈥� who informed O鈥橬eill of his promotion.
鈥淚t was a moment I will never forget,鈥� O鈥橬eill said about learning of his promotion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lifelong dream come true achieved through perseverance and dedication.鈥�
O鈥橬eill had his parents, family, girlfriend and a large contingent of friends who watched him over the weekend.
sports@langleytimes.com
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