Jhonkensy Noel’s batting average for the postseason was lower than .100 when Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt gave him a pinch-hit plate appearance in the bottom of the ninth, down two runs and with a man on base.
There were two outs, so the New York Yankees were one out away from winning and going up 3-0 in the AL Championship Series.
The first pitch from Luke Weaver, the Yankees closer, was a ball: a fastball away and out of the zone.
Many people at the stadium imagined that Weaver would go with the changeup in the strike zone to try and come back in the count.
Noel was one of those people, and he sat on the pitch.
He waited for it to develop, and once it was in range, he swung with all his power (which is considerable, to put it lightly).
He got every stitch of that ball and sent it to left field for a towering game-tying two-run home run.
Progressive Field went nuts, especially when Noel flipped his bat immediately upon making contact.
The man they call ‘Big Christmas’ delivered in October, and he had some special motivation to have a great game.
“The moment was incredible for so many reasons, but imagine doing that in front of your dad, who’s finally in the United States for the first time to see you play. Just amazing,” Guardians insider Mandy Bell posted on X.
The moment was incredible for so many reasons, but imagine doing that in front of your dad, who’s finally in the United States for the first time to see you play. Just amazing. https://t.co/zwlL3fUVpb
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) October 18, 2024
Mr. Noel was there at Progressive Field hoping to see his son play in the United States for the first time.
He wasn’t in the lineup, so all he could do was hope.
The patience paid off: he watched how his son saved the Guardians season and gave them a chance to come back in the series.
It was a moment that both father and son won’t forget in their lifetime.
NEXT: Jhonkensy Noel Made Guardians Franchise History On Thursday
