There was perhaps no one happier about Adolis García’s walk-off home run in Game 1 than Rangers backup catcher Austin Hedges.
His elation was obvious. As the rest of his Texas teammates processed what they were seeing from the dugout, Hedges was already sprinting, yelling, arms extended in abundant, cathartic joy.
His jubilation was fitting for two reasons. First, Hedges is the vibes architect of the Rangers’ clubhouse, always the first to celebrate a teammate or try to raise the energy. And second, Hedges had been in the on-deck circle, about to hit. He’d gotten his first plate appearance of the entire postseason just a few innings prior. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy had lifted starting catcher Jonah Heim for a pinch runner in the eighth when the team was still trailing by two runs; Bochy had not then anticipated extra innings with potential at-bats for Hedges. It doesn’t take much sleuthing to figure out why: Hedges is a lifetime .189 hitter. Which meant he was celebrating García’s home run not only because it meant a Rangers victory but also because it meant he did not have to go to the plate again.
