DUNEDIN, Fla. – Former Auburn outfielder Joshua Palacios was called up to the Toronto Blue Jays from the alternate training site and made his MLB debut Friday, playing right field and hitting ninth.
With his debut, Palacios became the 54th Auburn baseball alum to play in the big leagues, including the third former Tiger since last season to make his MLB debut.
Palacios played in two games over the weekend and went 4-for-4 with four runs, one RBI and one walk in the second game of his career Saturday. He became the second player in American League history to record four hits and four runs in one of his first two career games.
Palacios was selected by the Blue Jays in the fourth round (No. 132 overall) of the 2016 MLB Draft and has turned in a .288 average in four seasons throughout the minor leagues. He is rated by MLB.com as the organization's No. 29 prospect.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Palacios batted .385 in 34 games in his lone season on the Plains after transferring from San Jacinto College. His .385 average is Auburn's second highest single-season average since 2000. Palacios drove in 23 runs with five homers, nine doubles and four triples. He added 12 stolen bases and seven outfield assists.
Palacios impressed in Spring Training this season, hitting .353 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs and seven RBI in 20 games before being transferred to the alternate training site.