It was like a movie!

Enjoying the moment of his life (Chicago Tribune)

Taylor Davis is in his third season as a Cub, but he still hasn't played in 20 major league games. I don't believe I've spoken his name. Until yesterday.

For on Saturday, he got his first-ever home run as a major leaguer. With the bases loaded. Against the Cardinals! That's a story worthy of Roy Hobbs in The Natural. To put that one big swing of the bat in perspective, Saturday morning, he'd batted in three runs over the course of his career. This morning, he has seven.

 

So let's take a moment to give Taylor Davis his due. He's 29 years old. Was drafted late (#49th round) by the Marlins, who promptly traded him to the Cubs. He played more than six seasons in the minors on teams like the Tennessee Smokies and the Iowa Cubs. He was called up to the majors in 2017, as the Cubs third catcher -- after All-Star Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini. If Victor hadn't broken his hand last month, Taylor Davis would have been riding the bench yesterday.

But Saturday, Taylor Davis got to start a game. Finally his name was penciled in on Joe Maddon's line up card. And he made the most of his day in the sun with a Grand Slam.

Here's to Taylor Davis, and all the other players who grind it out, game after game and season after season. Because they are ballplayers.

Roy Hobbs, I give you the last word.