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E-mail StoryReds call up Dumatrait; lefty will make MLB debut tonight
| Wednesday, Aug 1 2007 11:40 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Aug 1 2007 11:42 PM
Phil Dumatrait said he's been dreaming of pitching in the big leagues since he was 5 years old.
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Tonight, the dream becomes reality.
The Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday called up Dumatrait from Triple-A Louisville and announced he will make his Major League debut tonight as a starting pitcher against the Washington Nationals.
"It's just starting to sink in," Dumatrait said in a telephone interview Wednesday night, shortly after he arrived at the Reds' team hotel in Washington, D.C. "I'm not sure how I'll sleep tonight. I may get a great night's sleep or I might not sleep well. But either way, I'll be ready."
Dumatrait, a 1999 Ridgeview High graduate, was a first-round pick (22nd overall) by the Boston Red Sox in the 2000 Major League Draft following a strong freshman year at Bakersfield College.
He's hit some bumps in his professional career. Most notably an elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery in April 2004, which forced him to miss that entire season.
"I feel like now I'm totally back," said Dumatrait, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-hander. "My velocity's back; my stuff's back. I feel like I did before I had the surgery. I feel good, I'm healty and I'm ready to go out there."
Dumatrait, who turned 26 on July 12, was rewarded for a solid season at Louisville. He was 10-5 in 21 starts with a 3.49 ERA. He allowed 109 hits and walked 48 with 70 strikeouts in 1182/3 innings.
He said he hasn't thought about the Nationals' hitters he'll face. Washington has a blend of veterans such as first baseman Dmitri Young and second baseman Ronnie Belliard and youngsters such as former Reds outfielder Austin Kearns and future star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
"These are the greatest baseball players in the world," Dumatrait said of the batters he'll face as a big leaguer. "As far as scouting guys, this is my first time. I've never been in a big league clubhouse, so I really don't know what to expect."
In the minors, Dumatrait said he typically would report to the ball park about two hours before game time on the days he was pitching.
"But being up here, I want to make sure I have more than enough time to prepare, so I'll probably come in four to five hours before the game. Plus I want to meet the manager (Pete Mackanin) and that kind of stuff."
He'll have some family support. Dumatrait said he has arranged for 19 tickets to be left for family members who were traveling to Washington for tonight's game.
"My wife and son, her parents, my parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents," Dumatrait said. "It's really nice they're able to make it. You only make your debut one time."
Dumatrait was traded by the Red Sox to Cincinnati for veteran relief pitcher Scott Williamson on July 30, 2003.
Dumatrait said he learned that he was set to be promoted in a meeting on Monday with Louisville manager Rick Sweet. He was scheduled to pitch Tuesday but was held out so he would be ready to pitch for the Reds tonight.
"I had to keep it quiet because it was not 100 percent, not a done deal," he said. "So I went all day Monday and Tuesday, but I had an idea it was going to happen. He (Sweet) called me in on Tuesday after the game and told me to pack my bags and head to Washington."
Dumatrait's father, Jerry, said his son telephoned him on Tuesday with the possibility of a big league debut.
"I wanted to get excited, but this is a business and you never know," Jerry Dumatrait said. "When he called last night and it was official, were were jumping up and down."
Tim Painton, BC's baseball coach, called Dumatrait's promotion well deserved.
"I called him (Wednesday) as he was getting on the plane," Painton said. "We're excited for him. He's come back from the elbow surgery and he's had a good year (with Louisville)."
The Reds brought up Dumatrait to shore up the starting rotation after Kyle Lohse was traded to Philadelphia on Monday and Aaron Harang was forced to miss a start because of lower back soreness.