Cardinals' Bryan Torres, who began minors journey in 2015, nabs first MLB hit, then homer at 28 in debut vs. Reds

Good things come to those who wait. That’s how the saying goes, anyway, and it came to fruition for 28-year-old Bryan Torres on Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati.

The St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, who began his minor-league career in 2015, finally made his MLB debut. He reached base three times, first with a walk, then with a single, and, in the top of the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park, he delivered a two-run home run.

Torres finished 2 for 4 with those two RBI during an 8-1 win in Game 1 of the teams’ doubleheader.

Afterward, Torres said in his on-field interview that he was “dreaming alive.”

“There’s [not] many words to describe this moment,” he said. “But if I can tell you something, it’s any of this couldn’t be possible without God. I’m a true believer.”

Torres, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, then pointed something out: “I’m not a homer guy.”

He hit only two in 36 games with the Redbirds this season. But he was slashing .336/.454/.477 at that level, a line boosted by 10 doubles, and he coupled that with 10 stolen bases.

“This moment is for life,” Torres later said in his on-field interview, which the Cardinals circulated on social media postgame.

“This is something that I will never forget.”

Torres played for Puerto Rico in this year’s World Baseball Classic. He was born in Caguas, and his family made the trip for his long-awaited moment in the majors:

Torres hit seventh in the lineup and played in left field to start the day-night doubleheader between NL Central foes. His pro career has been winding, to say the least.

The Milwaukee Brewers gave him his first shot to develop. He spent five seasons with the organization in rookie ball. In December 2019, the San Francisco Giants claimed him off waivers. That said, following the 2021 season, according to The Associated Press, he became a free agent and wound up playing independent ball with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association.

It was there, as reported by MLB.com, that Torres drew interest from the Cardinals. In fact, he accounted for more walks (104) than strikeouts (100) over 184 games with the Milkmen, per MLB.com.

Torres translated that discipline back to the minors, both with Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.

It showed up in the majors when he drew a full-count walk in the second inning on Saturday. From there, his afternoon only got better.