Andujar's 4-RBI debut sets Yankees record

CHICAGO -- Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra all own places of honor in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park, but none of those legends collected at least three hits and three RBIs in their respective Major League debuts. Miguel Andujar did.
Called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, the 22-year-old went straight from the airport to the history books in the Yankees' 12-3 victory over the White Sox, going 3-for-4 while driving in four runs with a double, walk and stolen base.
"What an amazing day. I'm never going to forget this day," Andujar said through an interpreter. "Super happy to be here, to play with these guys here and have the opportunity to contribute and then get a victory."

Andujar and Tyler Wade each collected their first Major League hits in the victory. Andujar knocked a two-run single up the middle off Chicago starter Carlos Rodón in the first inning, while Wade belted a run-scoring double in the sixth inning off reliever Jake Petricka.
"Going out there for the first at-bat, I felt a little nervous," Andujar said. "It's my first at-bat in the big leagues. Following that at-bat, everything was normal again."
Andujar said he would give the first-hit ball to his family, a thought echoed by Wade, who made his first big league start as the Yankees' left fielder after debuting as a pinch-hitter in Tuesday's 4-3 loss.
"The first one is definitely the toughest one," Wade said. "I was excited. I got a little weight off my shoulders. I was just trying to find a good pitch to hit. He made a couple of good pitches and I had a feeling he was going to throw a heater in right there."

Rated as the Yankees' No. 9 prospect by MLBPipeline.com, Andujar singled to left in the third inning and grounded out in the sixth before working an eighth-inning walk and stealing second base.
Andujar capped New York's scoring with a two-run double to deep center off Dan Jennings. The four RBIs set a record for a Yankee making his big league debut; Billy Martin (1950) and Marv Throneberry (1955) each had three RBIs.
Since 1949, the only other Yankee to collect three hits in his Major League debut was Mike Pagliarulo, who went 3-for-5 on July 7, 1984, at Minnesota.

"We saw a lot of talent in Spring Training when those guys would play, when they would start games or come in in the second half," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I think them being a big part of our success in Spring Training probably helped them in this situation."
Wade said he has watched Andujar play for the last three years and is excited about what the infielder will add to the growing collection of 'Baby Bombers' in The Show.
"I don't think you can really ask for a better day," Wade said. "He had unbelievable at-bats. I'm really happy for him. He's an unbelievable player and he's going to help this team."