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Phil Riewer -> RE: Players and prospects III (4/26/2022 8:04:57 AM)
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Todd Van Steensel
@toddvs35
#MiLBStory
I got called up from Cedar Rapids to Ft Myers in June 2014 after throwing well in CR. I pitched well in Ft Myers in my few months there. Had a 1.52era in 16 appearances. I was 23yo at the time
In 2015, I get sent back to Ft Myers. Totally expected.
10h
Replying to
@toddvs35
I figured I pitch well here, maybe by the All-Star break, I can get to AA.
I pitch well, make the All-Star team in 2015. Think I had like a 1.80era or something at the time Didn’t get called up to AA. Ended the season with a 2.32era.
I think, I should start in AA in 2016…
10h
Spring training comes around, I do well. But they tell me I’m going back to Ft Myers 🥲
So, I figure, just pitch well, eventually I’ll get called up.
Pitch well, make another All-Star team. And nothing
10h
A spot opens up in AA, and I think okay, here we go. Should be me… nope. The Twins sign a free agent and send him to AA
I don’t sleep at all that night.
The next day I am first at the field, and wait for the manager to get there just so I can have a chat with him
10h
I tell him how I feel, I say, I can’t get to the big leagues if I’m stuck in High A every year. I said, I’ve seen players leave the Twins and have success elsewhere and named names, and asked him how possible it would be to get my release to explore other opportunities
10h
He said, he doesn’t think the Twins would give me my release and would be risky.
Hell yes it would be risky, but was a chance I was willing to take. My stock was high, just pitched in an ASG, velo was still 94-96mph. Someone could give me a chance.
10h
Eventually he says, give it some time and think about it. So I do.
One fun/sad thing about spending so much time in Ft Myers was… I had the chance to accumulate a lot of appearances.
On a summer day in Bradenton, I became the second Ft Myers pitcher to appear in 100 games
10h
A few guys I played with over the years congratulated me and give me hugs in the dugout. Very similar to the scenes when someone gets their 3000th MLB hit.
After the game I just sat in the dugout and was like… I’m going to be stuck here forever 🥲
We were in St Lucie, and I was in my hotel room with a few guys and we were watching “I Love You, Man”. Great movie.
During the movie, my Ft Myers manager calls me and says I’m going to AA 🥲 so excited.
Go back to my room, tell the guys and they all congratulate me
10h
Get to AA the next day, and the manager makes a joke and says “He’s finally here. The mayor of Ft Myers” 🥲
I pitch well in my few weeks there. 2.25era in my 8IP. So figure I’ll start in AA in 2017
Just kidding, they tell me in spring training that I’m going back to Ft Myers
9h
The next day in spring, I join the Ft Myers group, and the pitching coach looks at me with a look on his face that says a whole lot, without saying anything. Was basically this
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The day before the 2017 season begins, I get told I’m going to AA 🤓 happy days.
Bad weather in the area meant I couldn’t fly out, so the Twins asked me if I wanted to drive. Drive to Chattanooga on my own. So I’m like… yes. Because if I say no, they’ll sign someone else lol
So I ended up driving to Chattanooga.
Long story short. In AA, i had one of my best seasons. 1.38era in 58.2IP, and 3IP with no runs allowed in the playoffs. Not bad right? You’d think it’d be enough to be able to start in AAA the next year…
Wrong
2018 comes around. Back to AA my guy.
And I figure. Pitch well. By the All-Star game, can be in AAA
Wrong.
Make the All-Star Game.
So I went to the All-Star Game, again. And played with some of the best prospects in baseball, again
9h
I figure my time has to be soon.
Wrong. I get hurt for the first time in my career. Spend two weeks on the IL.
And then get released… because they don’t have a spot for me
9h
Had to tell them I was released.
So, I go back to Ft Myers to spend some time there before going home. Go to a Miracle game to see friends, and the AAA pitching coach was there… he says to me…
“We were waiting for you to join us in Rochester. What happened?!”
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You tell me man! Lol I don’t make these decisions.
So, that was the entirety of my Twins career.
You know how they say, “don’t like it, play better”… I honestly don’t know what more I could have done in five seasons
190G
289.2IP
213H
73ER
133BB
317Ks
2.26ERA
1.19WHIP
I once heard…
“Twenty of you are here so the other five have a team to play on”
And it became increasingly clearer over the years I was one of the 20.
All part of it though. I got to do some cool things and make great friends, so wasn’t completely awful
9h
Life isn’t fair. We all know that. But it sucks when you don’t think are treated fairly.
Professional baseball is very hard. And very much not fair…
Depending on who you are
9h
This is the condensed version of one part of my MiLB career.
If someone wants to pay me to write a book I’m sure I could whip out a few hundred pages, lol
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