The Cincinnati Reds’ Michael Lorenzen joined some very elite company on Wednesday night.
On the mound, Lorenzen got the win in Cincinnati’s 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, after pitching in the seventh and eighth innings. But the versatile talent also played center field in the ninth inning, and he cranked his seventh career dinger at the plate.
So Lorenzen recorded the win, played a position other than pitcher, and hit a home run, all in the same game. The last player to do that? Babe Ruth in 1921.
Lorenzen entered the game with a career .775 OPS in 110 plate appearances, and many evaluators have suggested the Reds use him as a position player more often. He certainly showed why on Wednesday night.