For Houston Astros rookie Zach Dezenzo, it was only a matter of time before he hit his first major league home run.
If it couldn’t happen at Minute Maid Park, then at least it happened at one of baseball’s most legendary stadiums – Fenway Park in Boston.
The Astros continued their three-game series against the Red Sox on Saturday and Dezenzo, a right-hander, threw a pitch over the park’s Green Monster in left field.
Houston’s No. 4 prospect was called up to the team on Tuesday and has already played a major role on the field, with his batting average above .300 and helping the Astros win two games against the Texas Rangers and Friday’s opener against Boston.
But a career milestone like this should be celebrated.
Zach Dezenzo hits his first major league home run OVER the Green Monster!
The @astrosThe fourth-ranked prospect quickly rose to the club’s upper ranks over the past month, posting an OPS of .903 prior to his call-up. pic.twitter.com/CDpBjeK917
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) 10 August 2024
When Dezenzo returned to the dugout at Fenway Park, his teammates celebrated. Well, as Space City Home Network documented, it wasn’t exactly a raucous affair.
First major league home run for Zach Dezenzo! SILENT TREATMENT! pic.twitter.com/IEdOkT5fuS
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) 10 August 2024
Yes, the veteran Astros acknowledged Dezenzo with silence, which these days – depending on the circumstances of the home run – is as common as a high-five.
It’s safe to say that the celebration would have looked very different if his home run had been a walk-off.
Houston picked him up and immediately put him at first base, a position that had struggled all season. Jose Abreu had a terrible first half, batting under .200 and eventually being released. Jon Singleton was marginally better, and the trade of Joey Loperfido eliminated the possibility that the hard-hitting outfielder could one day end up there.
Dezenzo was drafted in the 12th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft out of Ohio State University. Houston assigned him to Class-A Fayetteville and then promoted him to High-A Ashville to begin the 2023 season.
He ended up at Double-A Corpus Christi at the end of the season and put himself on the radar for a call-up to the major leagues this year with a batting average of .304/.383/.531/.914, 23 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs.
Dezenzo began this season in Corpus Christi before being promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land. He missed two months of the season due to injury, but in 38 games, his batting average remained steady (.306/.386/.517/.903) with 13 doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI.
Houston ends its series against Boston on Sunday as the Astros try to keep up with the Seattle Mariners in the race to win the American League West.
