It took Eduardo Valencia just one swing to become Tigers fans' new favorite player

On Thursday night, Eduardo Valencia took his first major league at-bat in the bottom of the seventh, pinch-hitting for Kerry Carpenter. "Pinch-hitting for Kerry Carpenter" is not a detail fans have taken kindly to seeing in the box score this season, but we had to give Valencia some grace. He's the No. 21 prospect in the Tigers' organization who finally got the call after eight years in the minors (and at least Detroit already had a 3-1 lead).

Valencia got to a 2-1 count against Athletics reliever Hogan Harris, then smashed a 94 MPH fastball. It had a long hang time, sailing into the deepest part of Comerica Park's outfield. A's center fielder Henry Bolte gave chase, jumped at the wall ... but the ball made it to the other side of the fence. Valencia had his first career homer in his first career at-bat: 103.4 MPH off the bat, 425 feet to center.

His trip around the bases was one of the more animated you might've seen at the major league level in some time, but who could blame him?

After the game, Valencia got his first spotlight on-field interview with Daniella Bruce (and first Gatorade shower). He tearfully dedicated his home run to his family and his native Venezuela, and it was really, really hard not to cry along with him.

Eduardo Valencia becomes 10th Tigers rookie to hit a homer in his first major league at-bat

Valencia had been called up earlier that day, when the Tigers designated Jahmai Jones for assignment — a move that was a long time coming. Dillon Dingler is still day-to-day after being hit in the hand on Wednesday, so Valencia could get a start behind the dish during this weekend's series against the Phillies.

AJ Hinch opened his postgame press conference with a question of his own: "Baseball's pretty cool, isn't it?" He confirmed that Valencia will be the Tigers' starting DH on Friday.

Baseball America's Tigers prospect writer Emily Waldron wrote of Valencia, "Gentle giant. This guy has one of the softest hearts. [...] He’s an absolute tank with a truly authentic heart and always a joy to speak with."

How can you not root for a guy like that?

What a way to make a first impression. It was impossible not to be moved by the moment and by how much it meant to the player. Baseball's pretty cool.

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