Pirates Rookie, Opponent Address Controversy After Career Milestone

A feel-good moment quickly made way to an unusual subplot on Wednesday.

Cam Devanney recorded his first career MLB hit in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 28-year-old rookie hit a single off Emmet Sheehan in the second inning to achieve the long-awaited milestone at PNC Park.

The Pirates requested the baseball after Devanney’s hit, but Sheehan appeared to switch balls and keep the memento while tossing a new ball toward Pittsburgh’s dugout. Per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Kevin Gorman, Sheehan explained that he liked the ball he used in Devanney’s at-bat and didn’t realize there was any significance attached.

“I had no idea that was his first hit,” Sheehan said. “So, I’m going to try and find Cam tomorrow and apologize and figure out a way to make it up to him. But, yeah, it was completely unintentional.”

Fans were angered by the situation on social media, but Devanney didn’t notice until after the game. He’s pretty sure he now possesses the proper baseball from his first hit.

“I’m not entirely sure what happened,” Devanney said. “I just found out moments ago. I think I did get the right one.”

Devanney waited a long time for that moment. He’s played 618 games in the minor leagues since getting drafted as a 15th-round pick in 2019.

The Kansas City Royals sent Devanney to Pittsburgh for veteran Adam Frazier before this year’s trade deadline. The Pirates created a vacancy at the hot corner after dealing Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds.

Devanney went hitless in his first two games before registering hit No. 1 on Wednesday.

“Just incredible,” Devanney said. “Three days in the big leagues to go without a hit is a really long time. Just getting it out of the way is really awesome.”

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