Bus crash survivor called up by Braves

The past few months have been a whirlwind for Braves rookie lefthander Matt Marksberry, and that’s putting it mildly. Terrifying bus wreck, promotion from A-ball to Triple-A. And now, from Triple-A to the big leagues.

He was called to the majors from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, barely one month after being promoted directly from high Single-A Carolina and bypassing Double-A, and only 21/2 months after Marksberry was a passenger in the bus that flipped over on a North Carolina highway in the middle of the night May 12.

Marksberry was one of the fortunate ones who escaped without significant injury.

“Yeah, it was more shock,” he said. “It was one of those things where it was just a scary moment, and I’m happy to be alive right now.”

Alive, and enjoying the most exciting time of his life.

Marksberry was called to the big leagues after the Braves traded starting pitcher Alex Wood and relievers Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan. They brought up three rookie pitchers from Gwinnett: Marksberry and two righthanders who’d already made their debuts this season, Ryan Kelly and Jake Brigham.

“They told me that if the trade went down, I’d be activated,” said Marksberry, 24, a 15th-round draft pick in 2013 out of Campbell University in North Carolina. “I was like, oh man. That’s one of these things, a surreal moment. Especially since I started the season out in high-A. It’s been unreal for me.”

Marksberry had a 2.74 ERA in a combined 33 appearances in the minors this season, with 43 strikeouts and 14 walks in 46 innings. He’s the first member of the Braves’ 2013 draft class to reach the major leagues, and the first player from Campbell to reach the majors since Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry finished his career in 1983.

When the season began, Marksberry had a realistic goal of being promoted to Double-A by season’s end.

“When I first got called up to Triple-A, honestly when they called me into the office and told me I was going up, I thought I was going to Double-A,” he said. “When they told me (Triple-A), I was like, oh man. They gave me an opportunity to go up there and I pitched well and they kept me up there. So I appreciate them for doing that.”

Brigham was being recalled regardless, so he was already in Philadelphia for Thursday’s series opener. But the other two rookies were told Wednesday to be ready to catch a flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon once the trade was finalized.

Their flight was delayed, and Marksberry and Kelly didn’t land in Philadelphia until midgame, arriving at Citizens Bank Park in the seventh inning.

They dressed quickly, and when manager Fredi Gonzalez made a pitching change with two out in the eighth inning, he saw Marksberry and Kelly jog past the mound on their way to the bullpen beyond right field. They were out there for four outs — the last out of the eighth inning, and the Braves’ at-bat in the ninth inning of a 4-1 loss.

“I mean, I had butterflies in my stomach running out (to the bullpen),” Marksberry said Friday afternoon, a few hours before Game 2 of the series. “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like making my debut.”