Alex Blandino And Rosell Herrera Get Big Firsts

http://donatelifeohio.org/

It was a big day in the life of Alex Blandino and Rosell Herrera in spite of the 7-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last night.

Herrera in his first big league start led off the second inning with a single to rightfield off Chase Anderson for his first major league hit.  He was signed as a minor league free agent out of the Colorado Rockies organization with whom he signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at the age of 16.

He spent nine years in the organization, peaking at Triple A last season, hitting .278 with three home runs at Albuquerque.  Herrera hit two home runs in spring training.  The Reds moved the former outfielder all over the infield this spring.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

"I feel very good," Herrera said.  "I am thankful for the opportunity.  I saved the ball."

Blandino, who got a break when Eugenio Suarez was injured and continues to play in place of Scooter Gennett while his throwing shoulder is sore, hit his first Major League home run in the eighth inning off Jacob Barnes.

Blandino was the Reds' first round pick, 29th overall, in the 2014 draft.  The 25-year old from Palo Alto, California hit just 12 home runs last season which was split between Pensacola and Louisville.

"It was great to get the first one out of the way and it came when we needed a run," Blandino said. "It was a cutter that didn't cut.  I've faced him before and he's thrown me a cutter on the first pitch every time."

Blandino's long fly was caught by a fan in the stands.  The fan accepted a bat, (not the home run bat) and a couple pictures for it.

"I have some more hits in that bat," Blandino said.  "I'm going to give the ball to my grandmother (Mary Anne Field) in Mountain View, California."

There are no guarantees that the two players or any player stays in the Major Leagues for good.

Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell pointed out how fleeting the first trip to the Major Leagues can be.

"One of the things you learn is that making it to the Major Leagues is no guarantee that you will stay there," Counsell said.  "We have conversations they know what to expect.  All these guys know it is not guaranteed, nothing is guaranteed. One of the hardest things for any big leaguer when you get to the big leagues, your roster spot is not guaranteed.  You feel like your lifelong dream is accomplished and when it's taken away it gets shattered a little bit."

The first hit and first home run, however, are permanent.