Northern Ireland

Video: Delighted Belfast family fly over to watch PJ Conlon make winning baseball debut

Family and friends of PJ Conlon travelled at short notice
Family and friends of PJ Conlon travelled at short notice Family and friends of PJ Conlon travelled at short notice

PJ Conlon delighted his family and friends as he became the first Irishman to appear in a Major League Baseball game since 1945.

Born in Rockville Street off the Falls Road, the 24-year-old said he had the debut "you dream about".

About 20 family and friends made the journey to Cincinnati at short notice to watch Conlon pitch for the New York Mets.

And they were jumping in the stands, and waving the tricolour, as Conlon helped himself to his first big league strike out and base hit.

The US TV commentators added that "they are dancing on the streets of the Falls Road in Belfast" after he got through his first inning.

PJ's father Patrick, a PE teacher, is originally from Lenadoon in west Belfast.

He emigrated to California with his parents as a teenager in 1980 but returned to Belfast in 1991. PJ was just shy of his second birthday when his family moved from Belfast to Orange County, California in 1996, and he began playing baseball three years later.

He was first signed by the Mets in 2015 and has been working his way through the club's `farm' - or reserve - system. He had been due to pitch with the Las Vegas 51s on Sunday evening in Salt Lake City.

Resting in a hotel on Sunday morning, he said he missed a mobile call from Las Vegas manager Tony DeFrancesco, who also tried on the pitcher's room phone. Keen to keep sleeping, Conlon said he picked up the receiver and hung up.

Only when it rang again did he answer and learned he was heading to the major leagues.

"It's just something you dream about. It was cool. It was just so fun. It was a heck of an experience," he said.

His parents Patrick and Susan said they spoke to him after he received the call up, but then left him alone.

Mrs Conlon added that she was nervous as she didn't typically watch her son play.

"I've gotten unbelievable support, and all these people reaching out to me yesterday and today," PJ said.

"It means a lot. You could see them in the stands, waving the Irish flags. They're proud of it, and I'm proud of it."