Sag Harbor native Kyle McGowin (Pierson 2010) hosted a clinic for little leaguers last night at All Pro Sports Academy in Bellport. It featured dozens of players ages 7-13 learning the fundamentals to pitching from the Washington Nationals RHP, who has overcome some improbable odds to transition from one of the smallest towns on Long Island to the Major Leagues.
He was drafted out of Savannah State in 2013 by the Los Angeles Angels in the 5th round following an outstanding season in which he compiled an ERA of 1.49 with a record of 12-1 spanning 96.1 IP. He also led the league in strikeouts with 111.
He pitched in the Angels minor league system in 2013-’16 before getting traded to the Washington Nationals for Danny Espinosa. Following that season, I spoke with him for an interview, and he stated that he felt he turned a corner after working on improving the mental side of his game.
The results came to fruition in 2018 when he quickly rose up the minor league ranks from high-A, where he was promoted after two starts. His future outlook really took a turn for the better after his strong showing in Double-A where he compiled a 3.69 ERA over 78.0 IP. After 13 starts, he got the call to Triple-A Syracuse, where he was now just one step away from “The Show”.
This is where he flourished and did his best work of the season. Over eight starts, spanning 52.2 IP, the big RHP compiled an ERA of 1.20 over 0.66 WHIP.
After nearly six full seasons in the minor leagues riding buses, the Sag Harbor native got the call. His Major League debut was on September 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals where he yielded a home run to Yairo Munoz. He made his second outing against the Philadelphia Phillies six nights later and allowed a home run to Jose Bautista.
He recalled each at bat to me pitch-by-pitch, noting that Bautista launched a 3-1 fastball that he left out over the plate. He noted that the baseball in the big leagues are slicker than in the minor leagues, making it difficult to throw his dangerous slider–the pitch that allowed him to the make it to the big leagues.
After a couple more relief outings, he was given his shot to make his first big league start on September 26 against the Miami Marlins. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning but was removed due to a blister. It was a great showing and one that will allow him to be in consideration for a rotation spot in 2019.
He had a couple interesting anecdotes to add, being that I was curious to get some insight from a local big leaguer.
He explained the conversation of when he was informed that he was being traded in which the GM of the Angels called him up and asked how he was doing, before stating that he would play 2017 in another uniform.
As All Pro owner Scott June told the kids prior to the clinic, the odds of making the big leagues are slim enough, can you imagine what the odds are of a pitcher from the tiny Pierson HS in Sag Harbor are? Can you imagine making it from Single-A to the big leagues in one year on a team with World Series aspirations?
That is what resiliency is.
