Tampa Bay RAY rookie outfielder Jake Mangum (29) made an unforgettable performance in just his second game after debuting.

On the 1st (Korean time), Mangum started as the eighth right fielder against the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, recording 4 hits from 4 at-bats, 2 RBIs, 1 run, and 2 stolen bases.

With both teams tied at 0-0, Mangum entered his first at-bat in the bottom of the 3rd inning with one out and hit an 88.8 mph (142.9 km/h) slider from right-handed starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski for his first Major League hit. He then successfully stole second base, recording his first stolen base in the Major League. However, no subsequent hits followed, and he did not score.

In the 4th inning, with Tampa Bay leading 2-0 and one out with runners on second and third, Mangum capitalized on Mlodzinski's 88.3 mph (142.1 km/h) slider for a 2-RBI single that solidified the lead. In the 6th inning with one out, he hit an 85 mph (136.8 km/h) slider from left-handed relief pitcher Tim Miza for a double. He later scored on Jose Caballero's 1-RBI double.

After the Pirates scored one run to make it 5-1, Mangum entered his last at-bat in the 8th inning with no outs and a runner on first base. He hit a 94.1 mph (151.4 km/h) fastball on the seventh pitch from left-handed relief pitcher Joey Wentz for a single, creating a no-out opportunity with runners on first and third. Following a strikeout by Caballero and a sacrifice fly by Yandy Diaz, Mangum successfully stole second base, marking his second stolen base of the game. Thanks to Mangum's performance, Tampa Bay secured a 6-1 victory, continuing its early season momentum with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss.

Mangum, who was drafted in the 4th round (118th overall) of the 2019 amateur draft by the Mets, had to wait a whopping 6 years to step onto the Major League stage. This waiting period was even more significant as Mangum was a college player who graduated from Mississippi State University.

Mangum's journey to debut in the Major League was also rocky. Starting the season in Triple-A minor leagues (Durham Bulls), he was called up to the Major League right after the season opener to replace injured outfielder Josh Lowe. At that time, Mangum, who was away for a Norfolk road game, had to return to Durham to join the Tampa Bay team, but the issue was that he did not have a car.

According to Major League Baseball's official media MLB.com, "Mangum had to return to Durham to get to the big leagues, but he had no car. He called an Uber to cover the 190 miles (306 km) travel." Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash noted, "If I get the call to join the big leagues, I'll do whatever it takes to get there," while laughing.

While returning to Durham by Uber, Mangum informed his parents, family, and friends about his big league call-up. Receiving a flood of congratulatory messages, he became close with the Uber driver. Mangum said, "Her name was Amy. She is an angel," reflecting on the situation at that time.

Upon arriving in Durham, Mangum took a flight to Tampa. He said, "It was a long 24 hours, but it was really special." He continued, "My professional baseball journey started a bit late. But so far, my journey couldn't be better. I am just thankful to be here. I am really happy to finally start."

On the 31st of last month, Mangum made his Major League debut against Colorado, recording 3 at-bats with no hits and 1 walk. There were 15 family members and friends who flew from Mangum's hometown of Mississippi to Tampa to watch the game. After hitting his first Major League hit, Mangum celebrated by pointing at his family and friends, stating, "I could make it this far thanks to the help of so many people," adding, "Celebrating this moment with them was beyond words."

"I must have dreamed about moments like this during my childhood," Mangum said. "It is a special night. I’m happy to win the game. Celebrating with my teammates is really fun. It’s truly exciting," relishing in what he described as the best game of his life.

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