Pittsburgh's own Neil Walker hit his first big-league homer last night against the Cubs, and it was a big one:
↵↵↵Neil Walker, born and bred, boomed his first major-league home run on home soil, a two-run shot in the eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, Tuesday night before 11,334 at PNC Park.
↵It was, as he put it, "just something you dream about, really."
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It's not nearly the Hollywood story it would seem to be at first glance--Walker was drafted all the way back in 2004 but has been held back in the minors, in part because of his own attitude problems. His public griping about the Bucs' management keeping him in the minors, despite years of performance that showed that he manifestly wasn't ready, also doesn't fit the narrative.
↵Still, Walker hit very well in AAA at the end of last season and the beginning of this one, and he deserves to be in Pittsburgh now. His game-winning homer last night didn't exactly bring tears to these eyes, but it was nice to see, and here's hoping for many more in the future.