Rangers: Freeman and Helman, hits and home runs on consecutive pitches

Debut Night and Offensive Explosion for the Rangers

In a night full of emotions, the Texas Rangers celebrated memorable moments thanks to their young talents. Cody Freeman and Michael Helman lived their first stellar moments in the MLB, marking a milestone for the team. The day began with a home run by Josh Jung in his first at-bat after his return to the majors, setting the tone for an unforgettable night. Freeman hit a run-scoring double for his first hit in the big leagues, in the fifth inning of the game against the Athletics, driving the comeback.

The following pitch, courtesy of rookie Jacob Lopez, was connected by Helman, who sent the ball to the stands for a three-run homer. This moment was historic, as both players achieved their first hit and home run in the same inning, something that hadn’t happened since 2020.

“It was great that Cody got his first hit and an RBI right before, and then that happened. It was something very special,” Helman commented.

Michael Helman

Manager Bruce Bochy highlighted the importance of these achievements for the team: “Those guys won that game for us.” Jung and Helman were called up from the Triple-A Round Rock team that same morning. Despite the logistical difficulties, both players proved their worth with outstanding performances. Helman also drove in another run with a sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning, becoming the first Texas player to achieve a home run and a run-producing sacrifice bunt in the same game since 1987.

Micheal Helman and Cody Freeman celebrate after Helman’s first home run, a three-run shot, which came in the fifth inning one pitch after Freeman hit his first MLB hit.Freeman, who debuted in MLB as a pinch runner, expressed his relief and excitement after connecting his first hit: “I was much more relaxed than yesterday. I was excited, but today I felt calmer.” Helman, for his part, shared his mindset when batting: “I was just trying to do my job, and as the guys before me did theirs, I felt I needed to put something in the air. And it turned out better than I expected.”