Sports

Watch: Wynton Bernard gets emotional as he tells his mother he’s going to the Majors after 10 years in the Minors

Wynton Bernard made his Major League debut Friday. David Zalubowski/AP Photo

By MICHAEL KELLY, Associated Press

August 14, 2022

DENVER (AP) — Longtime minor leaguer Wynton Bernard singled, stole a base and scored in his major league debut, helping the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Friday night.

Brian Serven homered, Dinelson Lamet (1-1) pitched a perfect seventh inning for the win and Carlos Estévez worked the ninth for his second save.

The 31-year-old Bernard toiled in the minors for more than 10 years and 863 games before having his contract selected by Colorado on Friday. He made it a memorable debut when he helped spark a seventh-inning rally that put the Rockies in front for good.

Bernard received a loud ovation when he stepped to the plate for the first time in the bottom of the third. He grounded out to second, but received more love from the crowd.

“I never had anything like that,” he said. “That was incredible.”

Wynton Bernard telling his mom he’s going to the Major Leagues after 10 seasons in the minors is the best thing you will ever see pic.twitter.com/rRJiqw3OeZ

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 13, 2022

Bernard was taken in the 35th round of the 2012 draft and spent three seasons in the Padres’ minor league system. He also played in the minors for Detroit, San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs, along with stints in the Mexican Winter League, Venezuelan Winter League and independent ball. And, he played for the Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League.

In 10 minor league seasons, he hit .286 with 50 homers and 226 stolen bases. His first stolen base in the majors had a big impact.

Bernard legged out an infield single after Sam Hilliard started the inning with a double off Chris Devenski (2-1). Bernard stole second, went to third on Charlie Blackmon’s RBI single and scored on a sacrifice fly.

“I want to do everything I can to help the team win,” Bernard said. “So in a big situation like that, to come through for the team, it was huge.”

31-year-old Wynton Bernard picked up his first hit, stolen base and run in one trip around the bases during his MLB debut tonight! pic.twitter.com/96PyBaQ6YG

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 13, 2022

Diambondbacks starter Zach Davies needed just five pitches to get through the first inning, and only had two baserunners — a walk and an error — through three innings. Colorado got to him in the fourth with a walk, an infield single and a two-run double by Elehuris Montero.

Serven tied it with his fifth home run of the season leading off the fifth, the last for Davies. He allowed three runs on three hits and struck out two in five innings.

Arizona had built a 3-0 lead with a run in the second and a double by Cooper Hummel that brought home two in the fourth. Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela didn’t give up another after that and left after allowing three runs on five hits in six innings.

“We scored some runs and we were ahead 3-0 and Zach was doing a really nice job,” manager Torey Lovullo said.