Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images

I was always taught growing up that “good things come to those who wait.” Bryan Torres must have gotten the same advice. And he capitalized big time.

The St. Louis Cardinals outfielder began his minor-league career in 2015, and all these years later, has finally made his MLB debut. He reached base three times, first with a walk, then with a single, and, in the top of the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park, he delivered a two-run home run.

Torres finished 2 for 4 with those two RBI during an 8-1 win in Game 1 of the teams’ doubleheader.

He hit only two in 36 games with the Redbirds this season. But he was slashing .336/.454/.477 with 10 doubles and even notched 10 stolen bases on top of it.

“Eleven years to get to here,” Torres emotionally said following the victory. “I’m not a homer guy. Today, my debut, it just happened. I’ve been learning to manage the pressure. When the heart is going too fast, you have to slow things down. I felt a little pounding in my chest today.”

What’s crazier is that just four years ago, he actually considered retiring from baseball. Instead, over a decade later, Torres became just the third Cardinals player since 1900 with multiple hits that included a home run in his debut, the first since Bobby Smith at Cincinnati on April 16, 1957.

To add to the emotional weight of the game, his parents traveled from Puerto Rico on Friday only for that night’s game to be rained out. Several family members were at Great American Ball Park.

“It’s been a very long and tough road, and not the usual road,” Torres said afterwards. “Everything happens for a reason. My family is very happy. We’re living the dream, basically.”