Cam Sanders Won’t Have to Look Far for Reminder of Dream Come True
PITTSBURGH – Cam Sanders had a Monday night dinner with his girlfriend interrupted by a phone call, but even she’d be OK with the reason.
On the other end of the phone was Triple-A Indianapolis manager Shawn Bowman, who delivered the news that the 28-year-old was getting called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Ever since I was born this was just my biggest dream,” Sanders said as he stood outside his locker at PNC Park for the first time. “I feel like just showing up to the park and walking through the halls and seeing everything, it’s just great that I’m in my own shoes and I built this journey myself.”
Sanders, who spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, didn’t have to wait long to make his big-league debut once he finally got the call.
The right-hander covered the final two innings in the Pirates’ 8-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. He didn’t allow a run, yielded one hit, walked one and struck out a pair.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” he said on making his debut. “Finally got the feeling back in my legs, but other than that man, it’s just an awesome feeling.”
Sanders got Patrick Bailey to fly out to right field to begin his major-league career. He then punched out Christian Koss for his first strikeout.
“It was awesome. I mean it was crazy. I wasn’t even really thinking about trying to get a punchout,” he explained. “I was just thinking, ‘Get the ball over the plate. Make some action happen. Make something happen.’ It’s a great feeling man. Can’t really explain it. It’s just a part of the game. Many more to come hopefully.”
Sanders issued a two-out walk to Heliot Ramos before striking out Rafael Devers to end the top of the eighth. In the ninth, he worked around a leadoff single by retiring the next three batters he faced.
“Congrats to him,” manager Don Kelly said after the game. “Anybody who makes their debut, you’re not going to forget that night. He did a great job for us, coming in and finishing those last two innings. A different look and a different arm slot, but the stuff is electric when he’s pairing the 98 [mph] fastball with the slider, and the changeup looks really good too.”
As is the custom for a player who checks off a first after reaching the big leagues, Sanders will be given the ball from his first strikeout.
Some guys put it on a mantle. Others give it to their parents as a token of appreciation for their unwavering support.
Sanders has different plans for his.
“I might just take it with me everywhere I go until I reach another milestone, and then I can stack that one and take the other one with me,” he said with a chuckle. “No big plans for it. Just look at it I guess. That’s all I can do with it now.”
Wherever Sanders goes, he’ll always be able to call himself a big-leaguer. And he might just have the ball with him as proof, even if it’s the centerpiece on the table during another dinner with his girlfriend.
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