INDIANAPOLIS — He lost a prized possession, but had the confidence not to worry.
Steven Brault was six years old when he left behind his favorite baseball glove in the stands after watching a San Diego Padres game. When he want back to get it, the glove was gone.
“But I thought it was OK because I’ll be playing for the Padres and I’ll get it back,” Brault said. “It was that blind confidence of when I was little thinking, ‘Of course, I’ll play in the major leagues.’”
That confidence has been through some rough patches through the years, but it’s been rewarded: Brault will make his major league debut on Tuesday, starting for the Pirates.
The promotion came as a surprise to Brault, who has only made three starts since returning from a hamstring strain he suffered on May 8.
“Of course, it’s a surprise and I wasn’t expecting it,” Brault said. “But it’s the best surprise anybody could ever ask for.”
Brault was told about the promotion during a team meeting after Sunday’s game. Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor called the team together after the game.
“When I call them together at the end of the game they now know someone is going up,” Treanor said. “That’s the first thing I said – it’s no secret anymore.”
Brault told one of his friends the news first, but only after not getting in touch with the people he wanted to tell first.
“I called my parents 12 times and they didn’t answer,” Brault said. “Of course, that’s how it’s going to happen. But they were having a family reunion, so I was able to tell my entire family which was really cool.”
Brault injured his hamstring during an at-bat against Louisville on May 8, running out a grounder to first base. He made one rehab start at Morgantown, allowing one hit over four innings.
He was scheduled to make a second start with Morgantown, but was promoted to Indianapolis to fill a need and allowed five hits and two earned runs in 3.1 innings on June 25.
But in his last start — June 30 at Toledo — Brault allowed just four hits and no runs in five innings. He threw 47 of his 72 pitches for a strike.
“He’s getting back to how he was,” Treanor said. “He was very effective with pitches inside [prior to his injury]. He hasn’t really done that since he’s been back. I think he’s just trying to get his command back but by pitching inside.”
Brault had allowed eight earned runs and 24 hits in 23.2 innings over his first five starts, striking out 30 and walking nine.
“When he elevates his fastball away it’s very, very effective for him,” Treanor said. “He didn’t really have that going the other night, but he’s getting closer to that. He’s as ready as he can be right now.”
Brault has continuously said he feels 100 percent healthy since returning to Indianapolis, as his arm was obviously never injured. Now, emotions will be running high going into Tuesday’s start.
“It’s kind of everything all put together,” Brault said. “I’m ecstatic and I’m nervous, of course, but it’s a good nervous. Something that I’m going to take with me and I get to experience something that I’ve wanted to do my entire life. It’s literally my dream coming true. I’m very excited and can’t wait.”
