Kellenberg's Gorecki gets first big-league hit
Photo credit: Kathy Kmonicek/Kathy Kmonicek | FLUSHING, NY - AUGUST 19, 2009: Braves Reid Gorecki flies out to right field for his first major league at bat in 7th inning. New York Mets vs. the Atlanta Braves at Citifield. Photo by Kathy KmonicekFLUSHING, NY - AUGUST 19, 2009: New York Mets vs. the Atlanta Braves at Citifield. Photo by Kathy Kmonicek
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Reid Gorecki got a little ahead of himself.
Eager to impress, the East Rockaway product - and newest Atlanta Brave - swung at the very first pitch he saw from the Mets' Tim Redding.
"I was a little nervous in the box,'' said Gorecki, who made his first major-league plate appearance in the seventh inning of the Braves' 15-2 win last night at Citi Field. "I got a pitch to hit and I thought I put a good swing on it.''
Gorecki watched the ball sail high into the air before dropping into the glove of centerfielder Angel Pagan.
But two innings later, with more than 60 family members and friends cheering on the Queens-born Gorecki, he lined the second pitch from Sean Green to centerfield, scoring former Met Ryan Church.
"That felt pretty good,'' said the 28-year-old, who was called up Monday after centerfielder Nate McLouth was placed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. "I tried to see something up and get on top and put it in play. I got an RBI, got my knock, and I'm feeling pretty good.
"It was a lot different than Triple-A stands, [where] you only have four or five people rooting for you. I could hear them all, they were all yelling for me and screaming, so it was pretty exciting.''
The Cardinals drafted Gorecki, a Kellenberg graduate, in the 13th round in 2002. Although they called him up, he never played in a big-league game.
On Monday, he played two innings as a defensive replacement for the Braves. Last night, he got his chance to shine against the team he grew up rooting for.
"I just wanted to get a shot to show my family and friends that I could hit a little bit,'' he joked.
Gorecki understands his opportunities may be sparse this season, but he said he's prepared to do whatever he can to help Atlanta win.
"I'm just eager to get in there and show these guys that I want to produce,'' said the outfielder, who batted .286 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs for Triple-A Gwinnett.
" . . . I'm here to support them. I'm just here if they do need me.''
And he's taking his long-awaited opportunity in stride.
"I think I've rehearsed all this for a while - for years before it actually happened,'' said Gorecki, who spent nearly eight years in the minors. "Now that it has happened, I'm just trying to be cool. I feel like I've been here for a while, even though I haven't. As strange as that sounds.''
