Brandon Drury sure knows how to make a great first impression.
One of several shiny new toys acquired by the San Diego Padres before the MLB trade deadline, Drury made his debut with the team in grand fashion Wednesday night.
Drury didn't wait long to make an impact. With the bases juiced in his first at-bat in a Padres uniform, Drury turned on the first pitch he saw from Colorado Rockies' starter Chad Kuhl, depositing a grand slam over the left-centerfield wall.
Welcome to Slam Diego Brandon Drury#TimetoShine | @Padres pic.twitter.com/a7XFL1glOP
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) August 4, 2022
Drury's grand slam drove home the Padres two other significant trade deadline acquisitions, Juan Soto and Josh Bell, capping off a five-run first inning for the Padres.
The Padres traded their sixth-ranked prospect, Victor Acosta, to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Drury.
The 29-year-old batted .274/.335/.520 with 20 home runs and 59 RBI in 92 games with the Reds before the trade to San Diego.
The Padres had arguably the busiest trade deadline in baseball, trading for Drury, and All-Stars Josh Hader, Soto and Bell.
Earlier on Wednesday, while being introduced by the club to the media, Soto shared his excitement for what the Padres' lineup could accomplish, saying, "I wish good luck to the other pitchers."
Only a handful of innings into this new era of Padres' baseball, and Soto's words are already ringing true.
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