O’Grady’s big-league debut comes against Giants today
SAN FRANCISCO — Chris O’Grady’s low point came April 7, minor league Opening Day, when the Los Angeles Angels, the only professional organization he had ever known, released him. He was freshly unemployed, about to be 27 years old and had a resume that showed only minimal experience at the minors’ highest level. The idea that his baseball career might be over crossed his mind.
Three months later, the left-handed O’Grady will make his major league debut today, starting for the Miami Marlins against the San Francisco Giants.
“For that to happen was unbelievable to me,” O’Grady said of his early-season misfortune. “For this to happen is even more unbelievable.”
Miami put right-hander Edinson Volquez on the 10-day disabled list with left knee tendinitis to make room for O’Grady.
The Marlins are turning to the 6-foot-4, 225-pound O’Grady after moving on from lefty Jeff Locke this week, and after an impressive run from O’Grady with Triple-A New Orleans. He lasted six innings in each of his past five starts, allowing a combined five earned runs (1.50 ERA) with a 0.90 WHIP and .189/.246/.302 opponents’ slash line.
O’Grady’s improbable ascent began with a phone call to Scott Budner, New Orleans’ pitching coach who worked with O’Grady last year in the Angels’ system. O’Grady was hoping for a tryout. Forty-eight hours later, on May 6, he had a contract andwas slated to join the rotation in Double-A Jacksonville.
Before even getting to Jacksonville, a bullpen spot in New Orleans opened up, so O’Grady went there instead. Three appearances later, he wound up in the Triple-A rotation. A month and a half later came the bump up to the big leagues.
O’Grady credited Budner with his recent strong stretch thanks to an extra pitch he added to his repertoire.
“I’ve been trying since I was 18 years old to throw a changeup, and I’ve never been able to,” O’Grady said. “About a month ago, he was working with me on a new grip and it clicked. I think that really helped a lot.”
Newt o the organization, O’Grady has at least one familiar face in the Marlins’ clubhouse in addition to those he saw with New Orleans: first baseman Justin Bour. The two were teammates at George Mason in 2009, when Bour was the slugging pro prospect and O’Grady was a freshman who pitched in one game.
O’Grady’s older brother, T.J. O’Grady, is Bour’s best friend. They were teammates and in the same class at Mason. T.J. O’Grady is among the many family and friends flying into the Bay Area for today’s game.
“It’s nice to see a familiar face in the clubhouse,” Bour said. “I think he’s going to fit in really well here and he’ll do a great job.”
Volquez hits DL
Volquez landed on the DL two days after exiting his start with left knee trouble after four innings. The move is mostly a technicality and opened a 25-man roster spot for O’Grady, with Volquez not expected to miss a start. He’s penciled in for July 16 against the Dodgers.
“Nobody wants to be on the DL, but I think it’s the right move right nowbecause I’m not going to miss a start anyway,” Volquez said. “So it doesn’t bother me. My [All-Star break] starts already.”
Draft deadline passes
The Marlins signed 36 of their 41 draft picks, including everybody in the top 25 rounds, before Friday’s 5 p.m. signing deadline.
If dollar commitment, especially relative to the pick’s slot value as assigned by the league, is a clue as to how badly the club wanted to sign each pick, here are a few mid-rounders to keep an eye on: high school righty Matt Givin (20th round, $458,000, according to MLB.com); high school lefty Dakota Bennett (11th round, $350,000); Puerto Rican Baseball Academy catcher Jan Mercado (13th round, $225,000).