Cubs Star Rookie Has Career Night in Biggest Moment

Over the weekend, the Chicago Cubs were at risk of missing the playoffs.

It was a situation they hadn't been in for months as they've held the second Wild Card spot for the majority of the second half of the season.

Yet, a bad stretch had them on the outside of the playoffs before their idle day Monday actually helped get them back into the postseason standings with losses to the teams in front of them.

Tuesday they returned to action and needed a big performance at home to get back on track.

Their star rookie used this moment to have a career night.

Alexander Canario was called up from the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate at the beginning of September. He was hardly used, only getting one at-bat, before being sent back down on Sept. 11.

Injuries forced Chicago to call-up the 23-year-old prospect one day later where he sat on the bench throughout the losing streak.

On Tuesday, Canario got his shot in the starting lineup.

Slotted as the designated hitter, he got his first career Major League hit and RBI in the sixth inning.

In the eighth, he blasted a 382-foot shot for his first career MLB home run that happened to also be a grand slam.

"It’s surreal. I really have no words. 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," Canario told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

Fans have been clamoring to see the Cubs' No. 14 ranked prospect in the lineup since he's been called up.

In his first real opportunity, he delivered.

"Part of working your way up as a young guy -- you’ve got to prove yourself or wait your turn sometimes. It happens to everybody. Only the greats ever get to come in and really establish themselves and play right away. His future is bright ahead of him," manager David Ross said after the game.

How he fits into the plans going forward is to be seen, but he delivered an important performance when it mattered most for Chicago.