Word spread quickly and messages started popping into Tim Mayza’s phone. They included some variation of the same question.
Is this serious? Is this really happening?
The left-handed pitcher, who played for Upper Perkiomen in Pennsburg and for Millersville University, was headed to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Mayza expects to join the Phillies in Milwaukee for Monday’s game against the Brewers. The Lancaster County resident will be placed on the active roster and assigned No. 54.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Mayza said. “I’m sure when I see the uniform it’ll be a cool moment. After that it’s the same game, the same thing. Attacking hitters and getting outs.”
Mayza was scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Indianapolis Sunday while on a minor league rehab assignment for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was claimed on waivers by the Phillies.
Those texts came from Mayza’s college and high school teammates and coaches. Many of them are Phillies fans. So was Mayza when he was growing up.
There’s a photo of Mayza from when he attended a game at Veterans Stadium. Some of his fondest memories are from the stands at Citizens Bank Park.
Mayza and another family shared a partial season ticket plan that coincided with the great Phillies teams of the 2000s. He watched and admired lefties Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee and will wear the same number as Brad Lidge, who closed out the 2008 World Series.
After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 and playing for the New York Yankees in last year’s World Series, the 6-3, 215-pound reliever will put on red pinstripes for the first time.
Mayza, who lives in Denver, hasn’t pitched in a major league game since April 18 when he tore a muscle in his back.
“The hardest part was the initial diagnosis of the injury,” Mayza said. “When I did it, I didn’t think it was anything too serious.”
Mayza had to wait eight weeks until he could start throwing again. He finally returned to action on Aug. 19. He made two appearances with Single-A Bradenton and two with Indianapolis.
Teams that are out of contention often put players with expiring contracts on waivers shortly before the Aug. 31 deadline to be postseason eligible. The Pirates made Mayza available and the Phillies grabbed him.
The eight-year veteran posted a 2.89 ERA with eight strikeouts in 9⅓ innings for the Pirates. The Phillies, who are in first place in the National League East, will add Mayza to their bullpen mix.
Mayza will make his next major league appearance with a P on his cap. It’ll just be a different color than he was expecting. He watched many contending Phillies teams as a fan and will have a chance to be part of one as a player.
“Baseball is a crazy game,” Mayza said. “It takes you all kinds of crazy places.”
It can even take you to a familiar place. Home.
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