BASEBALL / Lee Hao-yu blasts first MLB home run in Tigers' comeback win over Reds

Taipei, April 27 (CNA) Detroit Tigers infielder Lee Hao-yu (李灝宇), the only active Taiwanese batter in Major League Baseball (MLB), crushed his first career home run Sunday to help his team rally to an 8-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

The Tigers' No. 6 prospect came off the bench as a pinch hitter for third baseman Colt Keith in the top of the seventh inning, after Gleyber Torres reached on a fielding error with Detroit trailing 3-2.

Facing a 90.7 mph sinker from left-hander Sam Moll, Lee drove the ball to right-center field at Great American Ball Park for a two-run shot that put the Tigers ahead 4-3.

"Really, it's different because I'm pinch-hitting," Lee was quoted as saying by MLB.com's Jason Beck.

"When I'm dreaming, I'm always starting. But it's pretty awesome to me: Pinch-hitting and hit a homer, show the manager that even when I'm not starting, I'm always ready to hit," he added.

The homer, which came after he had gone hitless in his previous four at-bats, registered an exit velocity of 105.8 mph, a 26-degree launch angle, and traveled 402 feet, according to MLB.

The 23-year-old Taiwanese infielder could not hide his excitement after making contact. He yelled, jumped and pumped his chest while rounding the bases so fast that Torres and third base coach Joey Cora both had to remind him to slow down when he neared third base so he would not pass Torres and be called out.

"The first thing I thought was, Please don't catch Gleyber," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, sparking laughter from reporters.

"He was going so fast and with so much intent, and I want him to enjoy it," Hinch said. "And I love how much he puts into it. It's probably one of the first times he's going to really feel a part of something big, because we were down to up."

The team later retrieved the ball for Lee, who said he would "keep it like a baby," when asked what he planned to do with it.

The home run led to a four-run seventh inning for Detroit, including a solo shot by Spencer Torkelson, marking his fifth straight game with a home run.

Lee remained in the game at third base and struck out in his second at-bat in the eighth. He is batting .211 with four hits in 19 at-bats and one walk.

After an oblique strain delayed his start to the season, Lee was called up from Triple-A on April 17 as an injury replacement for utility player Zach McKinstry, who was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 16, with left hip and abdominal inflammation.

According to a Tigers medical update on April 21, McKinstry is rehabbing with light baseball activity.

Sunday's win saved the Tigers from a sweep in the three-game series against the Reds. The Tigers, tied with the Cleveland Guardians atop the American League Central Division at 15-14, will next visit the Atlanta Braves for a three-game road series before returning to Detroit.