THE FIRST Irish-born player in Major League Baseball for over 70 years has enjoyed victory on his debut.
PJ Conlon, 24, lined out for the New York Mets on Monday night and helped his team end a six-game losing streak with a 7-6 win over Cincinnati Reds.
Belfast-born Conlon delivered a first-pitch strike to Jesse Winker in the first inning, struck out Tucker Barnhart and retired seven of the first eight batters he faced.
His appearance in the Majors is the first from an Irish-born player since Cork-born Joe Cleary recorded a single out for the Washington Senators in 1945.
Conlon, who has a Tricolour stitched into his glove, had his family in the crowd for his debut.
He told MLB.com: “I’ve gotten unbelievable support, and all these people reaching out to me yesterday and today, it means a lot.
“You could see them in the stands, waving the Irish flags. They’re proud of it, and I’m proud of it.”
He added: “It’s just something you dream about.
“It was cool. It was just so fun. It was a heck of an experience.”
Conlon moved with his family from the Falls Road area of West Belfast to Southern California 22 years ago.
His father, Patrick Conlon, told MLB.com: “It’s something special. He’s going down in the record books, in the Wikipedia book, which is amazing.
“A little kid from Belfast done good.”
