Braves reliever Jesse Biddle had quite a homecoming Sunday.
The big left-hander is a Philadelphia native who was a first-round draft selection by the Phillies in 2010, a former top prospect whose career got sidetracked year after year by a string of injuries. They ranged from whooping cough to a torn elbow ligament that required Tommy John surgery.
He finally made it to the majors a week ago, and Sunday he pitched against the team that drafted him at the ballpark where he thought he’d get to pitch someday for the Phillies.
His parents and other friends and family members were in the stands at Citizens Bank Park and watched Biddle pitch the final two innings of the Braves’ 10-1 win in dominant fashion, allowing no hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Oh, and he also had a ninth-inning RBI double to the left-field corner in the first plate appearance of his career.
Here’s what Biddle had to say about the memorable day:
On pitching against the team that drafted him in the first round in 2010, and in his hometown:
“I don’t want to overhype one specific game over anything else, but it was cool pitching against guys who I played with growing up and who I came through the minor leagues with. But I was just happy that our team could play so well and to help us get a win.”
On his parents going nuts celebrating in stands after his RBI double in the ninth inning:
(Laughs) “My dad has been telling me that I’m a big-league hitter for a long time now, ever since I was in Little League. So I’m sure he feels like he’s been proven right. I closed my eyes. Luis Garcia (the pitcher he got the hit off) is a good friend of mine; he has a disgusting sinker, I got very lucky. To be honest.”
What do you take more pride in, the double or pitching two scoreless, hitless innings with five strikeouts?
“I get paid to pitch. That’s what I take pride in. I was happy that I was able to put up a couple of zeroes when we needed it. Obviously we were ahead by a lot so it was good to get it done quick and not give them any help.”
On getting off to such a good start (four appearances, 6-1/3 scoreless innings, four hits, four walks, eight strikeouts) after waiting for eight injury-plagued years in the minors:
“None of us should be surprised when we’re having success. There’s a reason why we play so hard, there’s a reason why we work tirelessly to go out there and compete. I’m just happy that I’m able to go out there and help the team, really. I mean, I’ve been working for a long time for this and I’m just trying to execute pitches, and good things are happening right now. I’ve just got to keep going.”
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