In a scenario no one would have predicted prior to the 2016 season beginning, Rob Segedin started in right field Tuesday night against Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.
Segedin, a career Minor Leaguer while with the New York Yankees organization, made his Major League debut with the Dodgers on Aug. 7 and has taken advantage of every opportunity presented to him.
So it was fitting when he lined a leadoff home run off Bumgarner in the second inning to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0. The home run was only Segedin’s second of his Major League career, but it was his 12th RBI in 32 at-bats to that point.
Further adding to the whirlwind month it’s been, Segedin hit his first career home run in Monday’s route of the Cincinnati Reds. He boarded a charter flight with his teammates and upon returning to Los Angeles went to his wife’s side as the couple was expecting their first child.
Segedin was removed as part of a double switch with two outs in the eighth inning Tuesday night. “After we made that double switch, he beelined to the hospital,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his club’s victory.
“He was moving pretty quickly, I don’t know if he even showered.” Fortunately for Segedin, he was able to cap off his big night by being present for the birth of his son. Per a post on Segedin’s Instagram account, Robinson Marley Segedin was born at 11:36 p.m. PT.
The Dodgers will have the option of placing Segedin on the paternity list, which will allow him to miss a maximum of three games. Entering Wednesday, Los Angeles has five games remaining on their current homestand.