Before this week, only two Brooklyn natives had taken the field for the Brooklyn Cyclones. That number is now up to three.

Manny Rodriguez, 21, is back home after he left the borough at 15 to play baseball in Maryland. 

He then spent four years in the starting lineup for the University of Cincinnati.

He never thought he would return home until the MLB Draft, where he was selected by the Mets in the 10thround.

"Being drafted by the Mets, and then finding out I was coming back to Brooklyn, it was just like, it's exciting getting drafted, but then it went from a 10 to a 20 after that," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez's Fort Greene family shared in his excitement.

"Over the years they haven't been able to see me so much because I've been away," said Rodriguez. "So it's nice to be able to play in front of them once again."

On opening night, Rodriguez started at shortstop and in his first-ever at-bat hit a run-scoring single.