Red Sox 28-year-old rookie Jamie Westbrook recorded his first MLB hit during the eighth inning Wednesday in Boston's 9-0 walloping of the Atlanta Braves, then gave the baseball to his mom, Jen – per Christopher Smith of MassLive.
“She was battling breast cancer the past five months or so,” Westbrook said. “She’s in remission now. Just finished radiation last week. So, I think she deserves that ball.”
Westbrook, a 2013 fifth round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, spent a whopping 11 years in the minor leagues. He has played for five different organizations in that time and also played in Indy Ball in 2020 and in Mexico before finally ending up with the Red Sox.
He recorded 5,075 career plate appearances in professional ball before getting the call that he always dreamed about on Sunday.
“I just wanted to make sure the manager was serious, that he wasn’t joking with me,” said Westbrook in the Red Sox clubhouse Sunday morning. “He called me and he said, ‘I’m sure there’s been a lot of managers throughout your career that wanted to make this call but I’m happy it’s me. You’re going to the big leagues.’ I really don’t know what he said after that. That’s all I needed to hear.”
As Westbrook stood at first base for the first time in the Major Leagues, the Red Sox put a message on the Jumbotron to let fans know it was his first MLB hit. The crowd gave him a loud ovation as he had the ball saved for his mother.
Jamie Westbrook's long journey to the Red Sox
Westbrook has been in pro ball since 2013, affiliated with five different organizations, along with a stint in independent ball, which makes the news of his call up to the Red Sox emotional for him.
“Man, a lot of tears. It’s been a long time coming,” said Westbrook, per Sean McAdam of MassLive. “I’m still kind of at a loss for words. But definitely (full of) gratitude and happy to be here.”
As Westbrook bounced from one team's affiliate to another, he admits that there were times when he wondered if this day would ever even actually come.
“Yes, absolutely, and pretty often, honestly,” said Westbrook. “But I’m just happy I kept showing up, regardless of how it was going or where I was at. Today’s the day I’ve always dreamed of. It’s been really cool that I stuck it out this long, for sure. If you were to ask me on Draft Day coming out of high school, I would have told you that (by now) I would have made $200 million and played in the big league for 15 years.
“Everybody’s story is different. But It’s so much sweeter now and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s been a long time coming for sure. It’s a beautiful day, it really is.”
