The legend of "Dixie" just keeps growing, as what started as a fun promotion during the Portland Pickles' fan appreciation night has now turned into a real-deal baseball opportunity.
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Dixie is the fan who crushed a two-run homer in a live West Coast League game over the weekend. And he has officially been offered a contract by the Pickles. Yes, a real contract.
It all started when Dixie was randomly chosen to step into the batter's box during the Pickles' matchup with the Portland Gherkins at Walker Stadium. He drew a walk in his first at-bat, slid into second like a pro, and came around to score. That alone would've been enough to send him home with a story for the ages.
But then he came back up and turned the ballpark upside down. A towering blast to left-center. Two runs in. Crowd going wild. And now, apparently, contract talks.
"I was so impressed by the swing when I saw it," Pickles manager Mark "Mags" Magdaleno said, standing alongside Dixie. "I've watched it over and over and over again. I said to myself, 'Who is this kid?'"
Turns out, he's Eli Steinhaus, a college baseball player. Not exactly your average bleacher-sitter. Internet sleuths pieced it together after the story went viral, with BroBible's Jacob Elsey confirming the ID.
Still, random or not, the home run was real. And it impressed the right people.
We have officially signed Dixie to a one-day contract with the Portland Pickles. pic.twitter.com/YeQCpQp5kr
— Portland Pickles (@picklesbaseball) August 3, 2025
On his final day as Pickles manager, Magdaleno made it official — a one-day contract for the team's regular season finale against the Corvallis Knights.
No promises of playing time, but Steinhaus will get a proper uniform this time. And if the Pickles need a bat late in the game? Who knows.
It won't be an easy call, though. The series opener kicked off a season-ending three-game clash between the Pickles and Knights, the top two teams in the league, separated by just one game. With playoff seeding on the line and a title defense on the horizon, every pitch matters.
Still, the story writes itself.
From "random fan" to home run hero to officially on the roster. Whether or not Steinhaus steps into the box again, one thing's for sure — he already made the most of his shot.
