It wasn’t just another ballgame in Houston. The energy inside Minute Maid Park might have felt ordinary, but for one Detroit Tigers player, the moment pulsed with unspoken weight. He felt a sense of gravity in that moment without showing any signs of the turmoil. With a composed posture and a fluid swing, he sent the baseball rocketing off the bat—a cathartic release disguised as a home run.

Only then did Gleyber Torres let the emotion surface. As he rounded the bases, the 28-year-old infielder raised both hands skyward, a silent, skyward tribute to Scott Pucino, his late agent and confidant, who had passed days earlier. Hours later, on his Instagram story, he made it explicit with the caption, “This one is dedicated to you, Scott.”

For Torres, now in his first season with the Tigers under a $15 million deal, Pucino was far more than a negotiator. He was a mentor, a steadying voice behind the scenes, and one of the earliest believers in the infielder’s potential. Pucino’s sudden death struck at a fragile time—as Torres battled a slump, making the tribute feel almost providential.

The timing of Torres’ social media tribute couldn’t have been more significant. His home run, launched in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros, snapped a weeks-long power drought. But more than a stat correction, it was raw emotion crystallized in a single swing. While Torres hasn’t made a public statement beyond the Instagram story, the gesture screamed louder than words: This was for Scott.

Pucino’s passing has triggered waves of tributes across social media, from former colleagues to players. Like Bobby Witt Jr., whose family was personally represented by Pucino, shared on Facebook how much Pucino meant to him. Honoring him, Witt Jr. wrote, “It was an honor for our family that he represented both me and my dad in our careers. We will carry his legacy for years to come.” Additionally, Octagon Baseball, Pucino’s agency, posted emotional messages on Instagram and LinkedIn. They highlighted Pucino’s status as a “beloved member” and a “pillar” of the organization for over three decades. But the Tigers infielder’s post especially stood out as raw, succinct, and deeply personal.

In a sport often measured by batting averages and WAR metrics, this moment laid bare its human core. For Torres, rounding the bases wasn’t just about a return to form. It was about honoring someone who helped him become the player and the man he is today.

Some home runs rewrite narratives. This one honored a legacy.

Scott Pucino’s lasting impact on the game

You didn’t need to be one of his clients to know Pucino’s name. You simply had to be around the game long enough. From the outside, he was the kind of agent who commanded boardrooms and negotiated nine-figure contracts. But those who worked with him will tell you: Pucino wasn’t in for the headlines. He was in for the players—for their futures, their families. And most importantly, their peace of mind when the cameras weren’t rolling. That’s what made him different.

His most famous deal? Felix Hernandez’s $175 million extension with the Seattle Mariners, a contract that set a standard for pitchers and helped reshape the market at the time. But if you asked Pucino, he’d likely point instead to the smaller wins: the quiet confidence he helped a young player find, the calls he made during a slump, the loyalty he offered when others walked away.

His method wasn’t solely focused on transactions. But it was about nurturing connections based on trust and mutual respect. In an environment where allegiance can often be short-lived, Pucino’s clients understood that they had an advocate who genuinely cared for them as individuals and not just as athletes.

In the end, Pucino’s impact serves as a powerful reminder: the best agents aren’t just negotiating contracts, they’re shaping lives.