Tigers' Eduardo Valencia smashes home run in first career MLB at-bat

For some professional baseball players, the journey to the major leagues is a quick and easy one. 

For others, though, it's a long and grueling process that can sometimes make a player question their love of the game. Eduardo Valencia falls into the latter category, but after one swing on Thursday night, the journey was worth it all.

Eduardo Valencia homers on the first MLB pitch he sees

After over 1,500 minor league at-bats in the Detroit Tigers system, Valencia got the call to the majors prior to Thursday's game against the Athletics. Valencia entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter and what happened next is what every player ever dreams of.

Valencia launched the fourth pitch he saw 425 feet for the first home run of his major league career. He became the 10th Tigers player all-time to homer in their first career at-bat and first since Akil Baddoo in 2021.