'It really did happen': How Washington native Mason McCoy put his MLB debut into words
PEORIA — Mason McCoy is a major league baseball player at last.
After six years and 653 games in the minors, the Washington native made his big-league debut on Wednesday with the Toronto Blue Jays.
"Amazing," McCoy said Friday as the Jays prepared to open a series at Colorado. "Nothing prepares you for it, no matter the high expectations. You have to be there to see it, walking into that clubhouse, into that ballpark, it's just ridiculous.
"I knew a couple of the guys. I knew Ernie Clement, he was the first one I saw."
More: Washington High grad Mason McCoy called up to MLB with Toronto Blue Jays
McCoy's journey was finally complete Wednesday when his debut happened against the Washington Nationals as a pinch-hitter. He struck out. Then he went in as a defensive replacement at shortstop and made a terrific stop on a ball deep in the hole.
"I got an opportunity to make a play, I got a ball I could get to and it was a tough throw, bang-bang play," McCoy said. "The pinch-hit at-bat I was just trying to breathe, my legs were shaking the whole at-bat.
"Toronto is one of the coolest, crazy stadiums I've ever seen, and it's a lot to take in. I ended up striking out. But after that, it was just a big wave of relaxation."
How he got the call
Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette went to the injured list this week and the team, having released former Peoria Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong, turned to McCoy at Buffalo.
Toronto had acquired McCoy in a trade with Seattle in July.
"I got a call from (Buffalo manager and former big-leaguer Casey Candaele) and he told me there's a chance I might have to go to Toronto," McCoy said. "A couple days went by, then he called and said, 'Hey it's gonna have to wait.'
"Then at 11:30 p.m. that same night my wife and I are in bed, looking at houses — we want to buy a house. The call came again, and this time I had 12 hours to pack, get my passport and get to Toronto.
"It was a blur after that."
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Long road to the show
McCoy, 28, was originally drafted by Baltimore in the sixth round of the 2017 MLB Draft after playing college ball at Illinois Central College and Iowa.
He was a two-time NJCAA All-American at ICC and an all-Big Ten Conference pick at Iowa. On his way up the minors, he earned all-star honors in Single-A and Double-A ball, and in the Arizona Fall League. Baltimore traded him, at his request, to Seattle last year and he turned in a 21-homer, 22-stolen base season at Triple-A Tacoma.
The Mariners called him up twice. The first time, he arrived, turned around, and went back to the minors without playing. The second time, he packed but was called off before he could even leave the minor league club.
"After last year, it was knowing nothing is for sure until it happens," McCoy said. "I learned not to get too high, this time. But this time, it really did happen. It's too good to be true. Nothing prepares you for it, no matter how high the expectations. You have to be there to see it, it's just ridiculous how incredible it is."
His wife, Cassandra, and two young children, son Mateo and daughter, Zaela, saw it, too. They were on hand for both games in Toronto.
On Friday, he was in Colorado waiting for his parents, Misty and Josh, to make the drive in from Washington for the series. They are part of an entourage that includes friends and other family members.
"I haven't had a moment to reflect on this career journey," McCoy said. "It's something I'll do at the end of this season. Right now, I'm kind of running around with my head cut off.
"But I'm here."
McCoy joins a long list of Peoria area players to make it to the majors, from pitcher Zach Monroe to catcher Danny Goodwin, catcher Joe Girardi, outfielder Bill Tuttle, pitcher Mike Dunne, pitcher Guy Hoffman (from Bradley University), pitcher Brian Shouse (from BU), pitcher Zach McAllister, Hall of Famer Jim Thome, World Series MVP Ben Zobrist and, currently, ex-BU center fielder Mike Tauchman, among others.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Washington native Mason McCoy reacts to long-awaited MLB debut
