CHICAGO – Baseball can be such a cruel game. LaMonte Wade Jr., his dream of finally reaching the big leagues realized on a day his new team happened to play 18 innings, spent nearly six tense hours in the dugout Thursday, waiting for his chance to play. A chance that never came.
"A couple of times, I was told I was going to pinch-run" if a batter reached base, Wade said. "So my heart started racing, racing."
But it never happened.
"It was more than twice. … He might have forgotten a few times," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "He was ready. I mean, trust me, he was not down on the end of the bench not paying attention. He was locked in."
Wade, a 2015 ninth-round pick out of Maryland, finally got his chance Friday when Baldelli penciled him into the lineup, batting ninth, playing right field. "I know it's going to be crazy when I go out there," he said. "I'm very excited and nervous at the same time."
His big moment came in the second inning Friday. He greeted Miguel Sano at home plate after his new teammate homered, then dug in against Chicago lefthander Ross Detwiler. And then his first pitch as a big-leaguer … hit him in the shoulder. Take your base.
"Oh, but it was great, though," Wade said after his debut in the Twins' 6-4 loss to the White Sox. "I honestly didn't feel anything. So much adrenaline, so much excitement to get to first base."
Wade got the steal sign, took off for second base, and was thrown out easily when Detwiler threw to first. Three innings later, Wade was robbed of a hit when Charlie Tilson made a diving catch, and Nelson Cruz pinch-hit for him in the seventh inning.
