If you’d told me last November that Alexander Canario would have a game the following September that featured a double and a grand slam, I would have hoped that it was because Canario was finally getting the rust shaken off at Triple-A Iowa, and was setting things up for a good bounce-back year in 2024. If you’d insisted, no, this game happened in MLB, I wouldn’t have believed it. You, of course, would have assured me that it was real, and I would’ve said, ok, but how. And I would’ve said it loudly with wide eyes.
Last November, in a freak accident at first base, Canario injured his shoulder and destroyed his ankle. Each injury was serious enough to require surgery, and it would have been FOOLISH to presume he could return to his same level of effectiveness at Triple-A, even if that’s very much what we all hoped for. So for Canario to come back as fully as he did at Triple-A, to then get the call up to the big leagues just 10 months after that injury, and to do last night what he did? It’s unbelievable. I’m still shaking my head thinking through all the has happened in the last year.
“It’s surreal. I really have no words,” Canario said via team translator Fredy Quevedo, per Cubs.com. “Just to think back, in January I was in a boot and I was on a scooter to move around. And now I hit a grand slam in the big leagues. It’s just a surreal moment.”
More from the first big league start of Canario’s career …
First Major League hit ✅ First RBI ✅
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 20, 2023
Welcome to The Show, Alexander Canario! pic.twitter.com/EkzTvqqA52
ALEXANDER CANARIO.
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 20, 2023
GRAND SLAM! pic.twitter.com/SNHwvGiSSy
We still can’t get over you, AlexSLAMder 🤩 pic.twitter.com/jWYhGWYmuT
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 20, 2023
Alexander Canario is the only Cub to hit a grand slam in his first MLB start since 1901. pic.twitter.com/Sr5GThhpCt
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 20, 2023
Alexander Canario of the @Cubs is the only MLB player to hit a grand slam and drive in 5+ runs in his first career start (since RBI became an official stat in 1920). pic.twitter.com/YKHKFzMrkE— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 20, 2023
Alexander Canario #LaBotoooo #Cubs #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/tx0oLFkMcR
— Miguel Esparza (@Miguelsvoice) September 20, 2023
A grand entrance!#NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/0tpXU4AghX
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 20, 2023
Alexander Canario’s first MLB homer is a grand slam. #Cubs win. pic.twitter.com/5qTzkK6VrW
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) September 20, 2023
Canario gets the people going. GO CUBS! pic.twitter.com/lcSVlL3n4p
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) September 20, 2023
Grand Slam DINGER by Nelson Velazquez puts the Cubs ahead 8-7. pic.twitter.com/49g3llOXys
— Dingers: A Chicago Cubs Podcast (@Dingercubs) April 12, 2023
