Nicaragua baseball player 'signed on spot' by Detroit Tigers after striking out three MLB superstars

March 2024 · 2 minute read

A NICARAGUA pitcher's life changed in one inning after striking out not one, but three MLB stars.

Duque Hebbert, a 21-year-old pitcher entered the contest, having never pitched in affiliated pro ball, to face one of the powerhouses at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in the Dominican Republic.

But that didn't stop Herbert from having his one shining moment.

Set to face three of the sport's best hitters, Hebbert stepped onto the mound down 6-1 in the 9th inning and delivered a life-altering performance.

Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez, and Rafael Devers were the superstars due up next.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Hebbert did the unthinkable and handed each player the same fate — a strikeout.

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"Duque's performance yesterday was great… It's a fairytale," Nicaragua's coach Sandor Guido told MLB.com.

Guido added that it was a special moment for Nicaragua and baseball calling it "history for our country."

Hebbert's work against some of the game's best athletes at WBC did not go unnoticed.

The Detroit Tigers had a scout in attendance who was impressed enough to offer Hebbert a contract immediately after the game.

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The signing was announced in front of all of Hebbert's Nicaraguan teammates on their bus.

"I wish him the best of luck, and we, as a team with not many stars, thank God that the organizations scouted our players," Guido told MLB.

The viral moment left fans around the world in awe of the performance.

Taking to Twitter, fans expressed their excitement for Hebbert's special moment as one wrote: "Well deserved and glad his talent was noticed!!! He was an ace in the 9th."

One fan even went as far as to tweet: "Striking out Soto, JRod, & Devers??? Yeah, I love this guy already, @tigers."

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