Infielder Brendan Rodgers made the Houston Astros’ opening day roster, manager Joe Espada said Tuesday night, finalizing the 26-man group the club plans to carry into the season. Houston’s decision for the final roster spot came down to infielders Rodgers and Zack Short.

As Joe Espada aspired to be a big league manager, he dreamed of one day making a future player’s call-up to the Major Leagues a special moment.

So the skipper pulled out his phone and asked if a certain someone was at Daikin Park, and that someone was Smith’s mom, Stephanie Hocza, who then gave her teary-eyed son a big hug in the clubhouse as he received the news he’d be with the big league club.