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Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jose Fernandez joined rare company Tuesday night as he hit two home runs in his major league debut against the Detroit Tigers.
Fernandez hit his first home run in the fourth inning – a solo shot off Casey Mize. This cut the Diamondbacks’ deficit to four runs as the Tigers put up five runs in the third inning.
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Jose Fernandez (11) of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after hitting a home run in his first inning during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
He was called upon in the eighth inning to put together some heroics against All-Star closer Kenley Jansen. Fernandez hit a three-run shot to cap a six-run eighth inning. Arizona won the game 7-5.
Fernandez, 22, became the seventh player since 1900 to hit two home runs in his debut.
“I went back to my childhood days – just a dream come true,” he said.
Fernandez didn’t appear on the major league roster until Monday after missing the cut to start the season last week. Arizona needed another guy on the team after placing Pavin Smith on the 10-day injured list with left elbow soreness. He finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
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Jose Fernandez (11) of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks to the sky after hitting a home run in his first inning during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
“He deserves all the credit,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We are very proud of him. He’s a player who evolved in our system, in our academy, and it’s a great story, a great baseball story. We’ve known Jose for a long time. We knew he was coming.”
Fernandez is the second player in the past week to hit two home runs in his major league debut. Cleveland Guardians slugger Chase DeLauter did it Thursday. He made his regular season debut against the Seattle Mariners after appearing first in the playoffs.
Jose Fernandez of the Arizona Diamondbacks takes a Gatorade bath after hitting two home runs and four RBIs in his first major league baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
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Trevor Story (2016), JP Arencibia (2010), Mark Quinn (1999), Bert Campaneris (1964) and Bob Nieman (1951) also achieved the feat.
