Former AppleSox pitcher Tom Milone made his MLB debut Saturday, getting the no-decision after allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings. The highlight of the night for Milone did not come on the mound, but up at the plate.

On the very first pitch he saw as a major leaguer, Milone blasted a three-run homer. Only 26 players in MLB history have a hit a home run on the very first pitch they saw, and Milone became the first starting pitcher in history to accomplish the feat. After the historic blast Milone was cheered on by fans to take a curtain call. Click here to watch the home run.

Milone pitched for the AppleSox in 2006, helping Wenatchee capture the West Coast League Championship. He compiled a 5-1 record with a 2.61 ERA during his summer with the AppleSox. He was drafted by the Nationals out of USC in the 10^th round of the 2008 draft.

“He was great for us in 2006 and was a part of an outstanding pitching staff that summer,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “He had a great demeanor on the mound and was a consistent strike-thrower with an excellent changeup.”

Milone joins Jason Hammel (Colorado Rockies), Clay Mortensen (Colorado Rockies), and Cole Gillespie (Arizona Diamondbacks) as the fourth former AppleSox player to reach the major leagues.

The left-hander compiled a 12-6 record with a 3.22 ERA for Triple-A Syracuse this season, striking out 155 and walking only 16 in 148 1/3 innings. He was named the Washington Nationals 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 12-5 with a 2.85 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg.

*Photograph courtesy of the Syracuse Chiefs.