LOS ANGELES – Former Towson Tiger Richie Palacios made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut tonight for the Cleveland Guardians, becoming the fourth member of the Black & Gold to make the big leagues.
 
Palacios was called up from triple-A Columbus and placed on the April 25^th starting lineup for the Guardians against the Los Angeles Angels.  Palacios was put in the ninth spot of the order, playing in left field.
 
Palacios was a two-time All-CAA infielder in three years with Towson from 2016-18, hitting .324 in his collegiate career.  As a junior, Palacios hit .301 with 18 doubles, eight home runs, 31 RBI and 25 stolen bases, also having 52 walks to just 16 strikeouts for a .457 on-base percentage.  He is the program's all-time leader in stolen bases with 76.  
 
In 2018, he was the third-highest Towson player ever taken in the MLB Draft, being selected in the third round, 103^rd overall, by Cleveland.  Since being drafted, Palacios has played in 162 minor league games, hitting .309 with 14 home runs, 46 doubles and 93 RBI.  He has also stolen 30 bases while being caught only four times.  Palacios is ranked in the top-20 of Guardian prospects by MLB.com.
 
Palacios becomes the fourth Towson Tiger to make the major leagues and first since Casper Wells played in MLB from 2010-13.  Al Rubeling was the first Towson athlete to play in the majors, competing for four seasons from 1940-44, and the second was Chris Nabholz from 1990-1995.  Nabholz is the only other Tiger to have played for Cleveland, pitching in six games with the club in 1994.