BRONX, NY — Marco Raya, a 23-year-old right-handed rookie reliever, had some mop up duty on the mound of Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon for the Minnesota Twins. Most of the 40,156 July 4th holiday crowd had emptied the ballpark at the time of him toeing the rubber.
The Yankees trailed 11-4 in the eighth inning, as manager Derek Shelton summoned Raya to put this one in the win column. The Twins, powering their way with the bats, earned the victory to even up this three-game series headed to a rubber game Sunday afternoon.
Though for Raya, a proud Mexican-American, born in Laredo, Texas, the 98 degree heat and awe of Yankee Stadium, was what baseball is to him. A fourth round pick selected by the Twins in the 2020 MLB Draft, Raya made his third MLB appearance after his call up last month from Triple-A with the St. Paul Saints—there pitching 25 games and going 4-4 with a 5.54 ERA across 39 innings, 23 earned runs allowed and two saves.
“Really the adjustment is just kind of playing with guys a little bit older, a little bit more experienced. Outside of that, it’s the same game,” Raya said near his locker in the visitors clubhouse.
“So, really just adjusting to that and just getting to know some of the guys that I haven’t been around as much.”
The adjustments have not fazed the youngster who has acclimated to his new surroundings, a new home at Target Field in Minnesota. Pitching now with a Twins bullpen that has an array of experience including southpaw Taylor Rogers and right-handers Eric Orze and Yoendrys Gómez. In their last 51 games, Minnesota’s bullpen is 18-for- 24 in save opportunities.
There was no save granted when Raya left the mound after mop up duty Saturday but his debut at Yankee Stadium was what a rookie anticipates. The 93-MPH fastball, and good location over his two innings pitched, recording two strikeouts, with one hit allowed and a walk. The lone hit, a 3-2 back-end sweeper that Yankees’ Max Schuemann hit to left. He stranded two runners in the inning by striking out Austin Wells, and finished on 35 pitches overall, 20 for strikes.
“I mean, it’s great. Just playing in big cities like this,” he said. “And just the history behind it is. It’s like a kid dreaming out of a stadium like these. And now that I’m here, just taking all that, and, you know, making the most out of it.”
On what he’s picked up from teammates and coaches: “More and more learning (each day) and just how they go about their business as well.”
Marking his first time on the mound of Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon, Marco Raya successfully handled mop up duties for Minnesota’s pitching staff – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
He grew up a Red Sox fan, while his mom and dad remain avid followers of the team. Pitching though against the rival Yankees was more about arriving in the Big Show and helping the Twins out of the bullpen. Perhaps this summer he is used as an occasional spot starter if the opportunity calls for it.
“I was born in Texas, South Texas, just on the other side of the border,” Raya said. “Both my parents are full Mexican, so I’m Mexican-American, but back in my home, baseball is really like the sport for us down there. There’s a lot of it in town and a lot of people (playing).”
He commented more about his Mexican-American pride, proud of athletes who share the same heritage including boxing champions David Benavidez and Ryan Garcia. He follows their exploits in the ring and during the offseason will occasionally hit the punching bag for strength, though not rigorous enough to injure his arm, wrist, elbow, or shoulder common areas for a pitcher that get them on the injured list.
“I’m confident in there,” saying any game situation fits a purpose out of the pen. “I mean, I’m feeling ready, and, you know, wherever, whatever, the team needs me in, I’ll be ready to perform in that role. I went down a couple times (soreness to arm) and after that, we just kind of just created a really good routine.”
Marco Raya, making his MLB debut recently on June 27th, is currently the No. 16th ranked prospect in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system – Image Credit: Minor League Baseball
A routine that has Raya handling strength and conditioning, throwing bullpen sessions, and consulting with Minnesota’s pitching coach Pete Maki. So far it has worked and the intent is to remain with the big team, that is of course if roster constrictions cause him to make another stop at Triple A.
Baseball is that game of ups and downs, a continued learning process for a rookie pitcher with the intent to keep striving for more for himself and his team.
To that, Raya said: “this green grass is really good. Just playing together, how we all get along and how we play and look good, it’s just that we love the game and we really love playing together. So, I definitely see some positive things coming from this team.”
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
