Major League Baseball’s opening day has arrived and currently there are nine former Florida Gators on big league rosters heading into the 2021 schedule — albeit, with one on the injured list for the next month or so. Of those players, there is an infielder who played a major role on UF’s 2017 national championship squad who made his MLB debut on Thursday and started his career with a bang.
Jonathan India got the start at second base for the Cincinnati Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals after a torrid spring training performance that earned him the trip north. He struck out in his first at-bat against Jack Flaherty but his second time up, he proved why the Reds were wise to put him on the field for the first game of the season.
On a 2-2 pitch, India hit an 82 mph slider down the left-field line into the corner for a double in his second career MLB plate appearance. Here is a look at his first career (extra-base) hit.
1st big league game, 1st big league hit for @Reds' Jonathan India. pic.twitter.com/pLEFRiEScD
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 1, 2021
He put up some eye-popping numbers in spring training, which earned him the opening day call-up and he can be expected to continue producing as the year wears on. Congrats to Jonathan from the Gator Nation!
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