Nicaraguan Pitcher Signed by Tigers after Striking Out Soto, J-Rod, Devers

Duque Hebbert, a 21-year-old pitcher for Team Nicaragua earned himself a contract with the Detroit Tigers, after scouts saw him strike out Major League Baseball stars Juan Soto, Julio Rodriguez and Rafael Devers in the ninth inning of Monday's World Baseball Classic game against the Dominican Republic.

The World Baseball Classic is an excellent opportunity for a number of players, young and old, to showcase their skills to the world. Former Major Leaguers have a chance to show scouts that they still have it, as they try to fight and claw their way back to the show. Meanwhile, young international players have an opportunity to be seen by scouts for the very first time on a global stage.

One young player made the most of his opportunity Monday and signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers hours after leaving an impression on scouts.

Duque Hebbert, a 21-year-old pitcher for Team Nicaragua, put himself on the radar to scouts in attendance, when he struck out MLB All-Stars Juan Soto, Julio Rodriguez and Rafael Devers in the ninth inning of Nicaragua's 6-1 loss to the Dominican Republic.

Hebbert delivered a scoreless ninth inning, allowing just one hit — to San Diego Padres star Manny Machado. Machado doubled off Hebbert, but Hebbert was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run, using 19 total pitches.

While working through a loaded Dominican Republic lineup, Hebbert did not show overpowering stuff. He topped out at 90 mph, and generated a combined five whiffs on an upper-70s breaking ball and low-to-mid 80s changeup.

Hebbert's Baseball Reference page only tracked 15 professional games for the 5-foot-10, 170-pound pitcher. Hebbert made 15 appearances in the 2022-2023 Nicaraguan winter league, where he allowed 12 earned runs in 20 innings on 19 hits and seven walks, striking out 18, compiling a 5.40 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.

Nicaragua, 0-3, is on the brink of elimination, but Hebbert is about to embark on an exciting chapter of his life, something that the World baseball Classic helped him arrive to.

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