Exeter High School graduate Ben Malgeri was called up by the Detroit Tigers June 23 and singled to right field on the first pitch of his Major League Baseball debut against the New York Yankees.
Malgeri, 26, who was promoted from Triple-A Toledo, had his family in the crowd at Comerica Park cheering him on. His hit came in the bottom of the third inning off Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón, and he went on to score from second on a single by Tigers teammate Dillon Dingler, giving Detroit a 2-1 lead.
It was part of a 2-for-3 night for Malgeri, who caught a fly ball hit by the Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt in the top of the first inning to record the first out of his MLB career.
“Definitely good to get that first one out of the way,” Malgeri said afterward, according to a Detroit News report, with the ball from his first hit already encased and sitting in his locker. “My excitement level was through the roof. Obviously, it’s a big day and I’m super excited to be here. But I reminded myself it’s the same game I’ve been playing my whole life.”
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Malgeri singled to right field again, this time off Yankees reliever Brent Headrick. Malgeri was down 0-2 in the count to Headrick before hitting a line drive, with an exit velocity of 101.3 mph, that dropped in front of Yankees right fielder Jasson Dominguez.
The Tigers were defeated by the Yankees, 4-3.
Malgeri talks about his journey to major leagues
Malgeri grew up in Stratham and helped lead Exeter High School to back-to-back New Hampshire Division I state championships in 2017 and 2018 before playing at Northeastern University.
An 18th-round pick in 2021 by the Tigers, Malgeri made the jump from Double-A Erie to Triple-A Toledo to start the 2026 season after spending time with the big-league club during spring training in Florida. The Detroit News reported Malgeri was asked after his two-hit MLB debut about his six years in the minor leagues, where he was never labeled a top prospect while playing parts of three seasons in High A and three in Double A.
“I think everyone hits that point where they think it’s not going to happen, including myself,” Malgeri said. “Is this really for me? But I love the game. I love baseball, so just grind it out and see where it takes me.”
Why Malgeri was called up to Detroit now
The Detroit Free Press reported Malgeri performed especially well with Toledo against left-handed pitchers, posting a .322 batting average with a 1.007 OPS in 79 plate appearances, also noting the Yankees are expected to start left-handers Carlos Rodón (June 23) and Ryan Weathers (June 24).
“Just finding different ways to attack the opponent,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, according to a Free Press report. “The fact that we’re facing two lefties is one of the clear reasons why we wanted to bring him up right now. He’s hit his way here.”
Hinch indicated Malgeri would likely start against Weathers on June 24, too.
“He just provides another threat off the bench – or in the starting lineup,” Hinch said of Malgeri. “He has crushed.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Brandon Brown
