Weston Wilson’s father couldn’t hold back his tears of joy after his son belted a solo home run in his first major league at-bat.
Wilson, who was called up by the Phillies from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday, made his major league debut Wednesday when he faced Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore in the second inning.
On the third pitch of the at-bat, Wilson, 28, drove a ball deep over the center field fence to put the Phillies ahead of Washington 4-0 in the second inning.
The solo homer sent his family into a frenzy as they looked on from the stands at Citizens Bank Park.
His dad, Bill, was especially overcome by the moment and had to wipe away tears as he sat back down in his seat, the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast showed.
“It is very special and what we continue to talk about is it’s all about the journey,” Bill told NBC Sports Philadelphia after the roundtripper.
“Obviously we’re thrilled with him being here, but the lessons he’s learned through these years and through this journey have been amazing. He’s just an incredible young man. Very humble and he’s worked so hard, and he’s just had a great support system. And it’s just been very special.”
It was clearly a moment his family won’t soon forget and a special one for the 28-year-old rookie who made 2,836 minor league plate appearances before finally making it to the big leagues.
And Wilson made some history with the blast, becoming the first Phillies player to homer in his first major league at-bat since Marlon Anderson did so on Sept. 8, 1998.
He also joined Bill Duggleby (1898), Emmett Mueller (1938) and Ed Sanicki (1949) as the only other Phillies to homer in their first plate appearance.
Wilson has had quite the odyssey to get to the bigs after being drafted in 2016 by the Milwaukee Brewers.
He played at every level in minors and signed with the Phillies organization as a minor league free agent this January.
“It’s been a blessing,” Wilson said Monday afternoon, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I wouldn’t change these seven, eight years I’ve been in pro ball for anything. I was thinking about it on my drive (from Allentown to Philadelphia on Sunday). Taking it all in. but at the same time, I think I’m ready.
“It took me all that time to be at the point where I’m at peace with everything. I’ve learned so much along those seven or eight years. I’m so blessed to be here.
“I had a couple hiccups along the way where I thought I might get an opportunity back with Milwaukee. Things didn’t fall my way.
“But I couldn’t be happier than to be here now in the big leagues with the Phillies.”
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