Texas Rangers rookie Davis Wendzel records his first major league hit against Seattle

ARLINGTON — If you had a nickel for each time a Texas Rangers rookie recorded their first base hit in a late-inning, tight-game, pinch-hit situation this season, you’d have two nickels.

It’s not a lot, but, it’s interesting that it’s happened twice.

Infielder Davis Wendzel — a first-round selection out of Baylor in the 2019 MLB Draft — notched his first major league hit in the eighth inning of Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners. The Rangers, down a run vs. Seattle, pinch-hit the right-handed Wendzel for fellow rookie Evan Carter with two outs in the inning vs. Mariners southpaw Gabe Speier.

Wendzel saw five pitches from Speier before he slapped a low slider down the left-field line for a single. Josh Smith flew out to shortstop to end the inning and squash the Rangers’ last-best scoring chance. Infielder Justin Foscue, a first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, recorded his first MLB hit as a pinch hitter vs. Houston Astros closer Josh Hader on April 7.

“It was late in the game, legs were definitely getting a little shaky, but it worked out,” Wendzel said. “I think [manager Bruce Bochy] puts us in a good situation, he puts us in a matchup that he likes for us to suceed in. I think both of us were in matchups that they like.”

The Rangers promoted Wendzel, a 26-year-old third baseman, on April 8. He’d played in six games prior to Thursday and was 0 for 11 with a strikeout to begin his career.

“I knew eventually something was going to fall,” Wendzel said. “I was glad it happened today.”

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