Trade deadline acquisition pays immediate dividends for Padres

The San Diego Padres made the biggest splash at the MLB Trade Deadline by acquiring superstar Juan Soto. Trading for Soto might have caused another one of San Diego’s pickups — Brandon Drury — to go somewhat unnoticed. But in his first at-bat with the Padres, Drury was anything but unnoticed.

Drury came up in the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, with the bases loaded and San Diego leading 1-0. After one pitch, the bases were no longer loaded — and the score was no longer 1-0.

Drury took the first offering from Colorado’s Chad Kuhl and launched it over the left field wall for a grand slam.

In the history of the Padres, that had never been done before.

In fact, in only one pitch, Drury set a record for the most RBI any Padre has ever had in his first game with the team.

While the first day at a new job can often be a little awkward, Drury seems to have quickly overcome that. And his epic first swing caught the attention of baseball fans everywhere.

"Brandon Drury now plays in SLAM DIEGO!"

Perfect Don Orsillo call. Drury hits a grand slam on the first pitch he sees as a Padre. This is so fun!

— ByMattMartell (@ByMattMartell) August 4, 2022

Naturally, when your team acquires Soto, everything else will fly under-the-radar. But Drury was having a very nice season for the Cincinnati Reds, hitting .274/.335/.520 with 20 home runs prior to his trade.

He certainly knows how to make a good first impression. And Soto’s wishes of “good luck” to pitchers opposing the Padres star-studded lineup now look quite prescient.

[San Diego Padres, AJ Cassavell, Sarah Langs]