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C.J. Kayfus' MLB debut features some travel delays, a Guardians win and a key RBI
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- C.J. Kayfus' MLB debut features some travel delays, a Guardians win and a key RBI
CLEVELAND — C.J. Kayfus received some good news, and his dad needed to do a U-Turn a few minutes later.
Kayfus, the Guardians' No. 4-ranked prospect and No. 66 in baseball, was told Aug. 1 that he'd be promoted to the major leagues and make his debut with the Guardians Aug. 2 against the Minnesota Twins .
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Kayfus' first call was to his dad, David, who happened to be driving from West Palm, Fl. to Jacksonville to watch his son play in another Triple-A game. But Kayfus was now headed to Cleveland, and his dad needed to get on the first flight he could find.
"I think he was halfway there and I told him to turn around," Kayfus said. "I think he had to pull over and let my stepmom [Karen] start driving, he was excited."
Kayfus then called his mom, Haika, a nighttime nurse who often needs to sleep during the day. She didn't pick up the first couple of calls but finally did, and the race to get to Cleveland began.
"I think she probably sprung out of bed the fastest she ever has," Kayfus said.
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The whole family did get there in time to see Kayfus make his major league debut in the Guardians' 5-4 win over the Twins. Kayfus, himself, experienced flight delays and didn't get in to Cleveland until around 3 a.m. Then, understandably, he had some trouble sleeping, even comparing it to Christmas Eve.
"I was so tired, but hearing the crowd behind me really got my blood flowing," Kayfus said.
When he first went onto the field to stretch before the game, he took a moment to turn in a circle and just take in the moment and his surroundings.
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"I did a 360 and took it all in," he said. "It was honestly unbelievable."
Guardians rookie C.J. Kayfus runs back to the dugout after a second-inning RBI groundout against the Minnesota Twins in his first MLB at-bat, Aug. 2, in Cleveland.
Guardians win in C.J. Kayfus' MLB dbeut
Kayfus stepped to the plate for his first at-bat with runners at the corners in the second inning. He didn't come up with the hit, but he grounded a ball that was able to score the run and give the Guardians their first lead of the day.
He ended the game 0-for-4, but with an RBI, while playing right field. He caught a line drive, a good sign for a former first baseman who the Guardians have been converting to an outfielder. But in an effort to get rid of the nerves, he was hoping to be involved in a play as early as possible.
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"First inning, I was like, please hit me a ball so I can get this out of the way," he said.
While other top prospects — Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, Juan Brito — have been unavailable for a possible promotion due to various injuries and time missed, Kayfus is the Guardians' hope for some help lengthening the lineup after posting a combined .930 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
Kayfus kept some mementos from his first game, including the RBI ball. He quipped with a smile, "It's not the [first] hit ball, but, it is what it is."
That's next.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians prospect C.J. Kayfus gets 1st RBI in debut, awaits 1st hit
