Barrosa Reflects on Emotions of MLB Debut

RENO, Nev.: The roars pierced the walls of the Grand Sierra Resort at the Reno Aces pre-season event, with the introduction of Jorge Barrosa, as loyal fans let out a cheer you only hear after a game-changing play at Greater Nevada Field.

The 23-year-old is a magnetic Venezuelan who plays centerfield with joy and a passion you can feel from the stands. He smiled brightly and waved. Last season, he captured this group like a fly ball in the gap.

Only a few days into the 2024 season, the roster announcement changed Barrosa as his dream of becoming a major-league ballplayer for the Arizona Diamondbacks became a reality.

Barrosa took his bat, glove, and extremely likable personality to Phoenix last week for his MLB debut. In his first at-bat, he hit a ground-rule double.

"I was excited… I was a little nervous," Barrosa said, "for sure, I was nervous, but by the time I stepped in the box, it was like that's what I've been doing all my life."

"My mind was clear at that moment."

Before the three games, he thought back to learning to love baseball in a small town in Venezuela and his incredible journey to playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks at just 23 years old.

"I was thinking about playing in Puerto Cabello, where I come from, and it's like wow, It's a big change," he said, "In that moment, I say thanks to God and thanks to the people who helped me get here."

He understands that making his MLB debut is the dream rather than the goal.

"The goal is not to be there," he said, "You want to stay there and play there for a long time."

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