Diamondbacks rookie walks off Cubs to complete record-setting feat

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Diamondbacks rookie walks off Cubs to complete record-setting feat

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Aug 26, 2026 1:22 PM ET

Rookie outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt has etched his name into Arizona Diamondbacks history.

D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo threw Waldschmidt into a massive spot Tuesday, trailing the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Waldschmidt, whom Lovullo had pinch-hit for Jorge Barrosa, had a runner on base with two outs in front of a Cubs-heavy home crowd at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz.

Waldschmidt worked a 2-1 count against Cubs reliever Jacob Webb. That set the Diamondbacks rookie up to crush an 84-mph slider deep into the left-field seats.

WALK-OFF HOME RUN

Down to the @Dbacks last out, Ryan Waldschmidt flips the script! pic.twitter.com/5tq5ojZiN8
— MLB (@MLB) August 26, 2026

Waldschmidt became the first rookie ever to record a pinch-hit walk-off home run in Diamondbacks franchise history. He accomplished that feat to help bring the Diamondbacks within a game of the San Diego Padres in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Arizona got some help from Lady Luck to pull off the 5-4 win. With the Diamondbacks trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the 8th, Gabriel Moreno hit a check-swing double that led to a three-run inning.

Waldschmidt’s walk-off dinger against the Cubs was just the third of his MLB career. Two out of the three were walk-off home runs against top-four NL teams. Waldschmidt also stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month in a nearly identical game situation to that of his Cubs winner.

RYAN WALDSCHMIDT WALK-OFF HOMER! pic.twitter.com/awJyS4RYda
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2026

The man arguably deserves two Wins Above Replacement for those walk-off home runs alone. At the very least, disgruntled pitch-tipper Merrill Kelly should buy him dinner.

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