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| Photo Credit: Matt Slocum/AP |
For every Bryce Harper or Mike Trout that become superstars in the Major Leagues before they can legally have a celebratory drink, there are a bunch of Matt Daley types. While everyone dreams of signing a lucrative seven figure contract before their first professional game, there are people that are forced to do it the hard way. Of all those who are lingering in the minor leagues for years, most never fulfill their childhood dreams of playing in a big league uniform. Only a handful will be given the opportunity. Daley is living proof that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Growing up in Flushing, Daley was a fan of the Mets. That was during the time the team was in a renaissance period after the acquisition of Mike Piazza. The team ultimately lost to the crosstown Yankees in the 2000 World Series, but Daley actually had a season even more successful than his favorite team. Coming out of Garden City high school, Daley was the golden boy of the program. He had just led the team to their first New York State title since 1945. He lost only one game that year and it was the only loss he suffered in his high school career. For his career, he compiled a 16-1 record.
Despite his success, Daley was not drafted out of high school. In fact, he did not even receive a scholarship offer. That can be attributed to his lack of height. Daley was always short for his age and claims he was only 5’1″ in high school.
After a growth spurt, Daley went on to pitch for Bucknell as a walk on. He had a solid career, in which he was a part of two Patriot League Championship teams in ’01 and ’03. In his senior year he was named to the Academic All-District Team for his 6-2 record with a 2.82 ERA. He compiled a 30 inning scoreless streak.
Even after that success, he was not drafted. He was signed by the Colorado Rockies as an un-drafted free agent. At that point it was very much an uphill climb. It wasn’t in him to quit.
“I told my dad that year that as long as I feel like I can get hitters out, I will continue to play this game,” said Daley. Even if that meant lurking in relative obscurity in the minor leagues. “Once I can’t do that anymore, then I’ll retire,” he added.
After a handful of seasons in the minor leagues, Daley’s resilience paid off and he made his big league debut in 2009 as a 26-year-old. His 4.24 ERA does not stand out, but he was very effective at keeping right-handed batters at bay. They only hit .227 against him for his career.
He appeared in 92 games with them from ’09-’11 but suffered an injury to his labrum that required surgery. That type of surgery for a pitcher has been regarded as a kiss of death. It is not a sure thing, and only a handful of pitchers have returned at full strength.
He was fortunate that the Yankees saw enough in his performances that they signed him to a minor league deal. 2012 was all about rehab for him, though. He appeared in only two instructional league games that season.
“That year was, by far, the hardest,” he said. “It was tough mentally to watch for a whole season.”
The difficulty in labrum rehab is that even when you feel healthy, there can be a setback, according to Daley. “It’s not a rehab like Tommy John, there’s peaks and valleys. You can feel good and then the next day you’re right back to where you started.”
Fortunately the rehab went well and Daley was prepared for the 2013 season. The Yankees suffered some issues with relief pitching and the moment came for Daley to get the call.
He was not called on in high-leverage spots, of course, those moments were reserved for the likes of David Robertson and Mariano Rivera.
There was one moment that will not be forgotten. That was on Mariano’s final game at Yankee Stadium in which long-time teammates Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter came to the mound to take the ball from Rivera. Some might not know, but the veterans stayed on the mound to hand the ball to Daley, who relieved Rivera.
“It was amazing,” he said. “That was the moment it clicked that I was on the Yankees. It was impossible not to get caught up in the moment. My mom was crying in the stands.”
Daley was not flustered and ended up pitching a scoreless inning in which he retired notorious Yankee-killer David Ortiz. He retrieved the ball and will “keep it forever”.
Next season, Daley may be taking on an expanded role. With the departure of Mariano the Yankees must replace the greatest closer of all-time. Clearly, nobody is capable of filling the tremendous void vacated by the legend, but the title but be filled.
“Robertson definitely deserves the first crack at it,” he said in regards to the closer role. “I’ll be ready for whatever they need me to do. Everything will fall into place.”
For Daley, it appears that statement is actually true. Here’s a guy that was never in the spotlight but continued to do one thing: succeed on the mound. Even after lingering around the minor leagues for five years, he was rewarded with his call-up to the Rockies. Even after the difficult recovery from labrum surgery the Yankees signed him. And even after the Yankees needed a proven commodity in the bullpen, they called up a pitcher that had never pitched an inning in the pinstripes.
Say whatever you will about Daley, but I will not bet against him. Things have proven to fall in his favor and I wouldn’t be surprised if the closer role ends up to be his at some point in 2014.
