Brewers call up No. 5 prospect Dubon

PITTSBURGH -- Mauricio Dubón's first stint in the big leagues could be short, but it began with something historic..

The Brewers called up shortstop Dubon, their No. 5 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and he became the first player born and raised in Honduras to play in the Major Leagues when he grounded out at the end of an eight-pitch at-bat against All-Star closer Felipe Vazquez in the eighth inning of the Brewers’ first-half finale loss to the Pirates at PNC Park on Sunday. Milwaukee called him up after starting shortstop Orlando Arcia was involved in a collision with second baseman Keston Hiura on Saturday and optioned right-hander Burch Smith to Triple-A San Antonio to make room on the roster.

Dubon, who turns 25 on July 19, arrived at PNC Park about an hour before Sunday’s game and fulfilled a long-held dream when he made history for his country. Gerald Young, an outfielder who played for the Astros, Rockies and Cardinals from 1987-94, was born in Honduras, but raised in the United States.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, being on a big league field, having a whole country watch you play,” said Dubon after a 6-5 defeat that was briefly delayed by rain after the fifth inning. “We had the rain delay and everything, and I had a chance to look at my phone at how everything was going, and the whole country was watching. It was special knowing I had that support back home. Real special. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”

In addition to the support he knew was coming from his home country, Dubon also had support in the stands in Pittsburgh. After Dubon got news of his promotion late Saturday, he called home to his parents in Honduras, Danilo and Jeannette, to get a flight to Pittsburgh. He also called Andy and Sandy Ritchey in Sacramento, the host parents who housed Dubon for his final two years of high school after meeting him on a mission trip, which is how he came to be drafted by the Red Sox in 2013. They caught a redeye flight to Houston, where they happened to run into Dubon while he was connecting flights from New Orleans.

It all happened fast. And it might stay that way.

“This could be a short stay for Mauricio,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “We just needed a position player body today, and not knowing how Orlando was going to report this morning, we wouldn’t have an extra infielder without Orlando. … This will be the introduction to the story, and it’s going to be a great story. It’s a national story in [Dubon’s] country, and that’s pretty cool.”

Said Brewers president of baseball operations and general manager David Stearns, “It’s wonderful. It’s something that I know he and his family have thought a lot about. It’s something that he’s been very open about, that this is really important to him to be the first from his country. It just adds to the warm feeling that everyone in here is going to have for him.”

The Brewers acquired Dubon, along with Travis Shaw and two other Minor Leaguers, in the trade that sent reliever Tyler Thornburg to the Red Sox in 2016. His ascent to MLB was twice delayed by a medical matter; last May, after reaching Triple-A, he was sidelined for the rest of the year by a torn ACL in his left knee. This spring, his return to game action was delayed by a serious intestinal illness that ruined his first big league camp.

In 82 games at Triple-A San Antonio this season, Dubon slashed .306/.343/.487 with 14 home runs and eight steals. He's hit at every stop along the way through the Boston and Milwaukee farm systems, including a .343/.348/.574 line with four homers in 27 Triple-A games last year.

Though Hiura said he felt "normal" after Saturday's Brewers loss, Arcia took the brunt of the collision, and Counsell said his collarbone and shoulder areas were being evaluated after neurological tests came back all clear. But Arcia reported Sunday morning feeling fine, and is not expected to land on the injured list. That could mean a return to the Minors for Dubon following the All-Star break.

“I think [a short stay is] a distinct possibility,” Stearns said. “With some of the guys we have banged up it was essential that we had another position player here today. He’s earned the right to be here, he’s on the [40-man] roster. Even if it’s a shorter stay for him, it’s a special day and he’s earned it.”