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27-Year-Old Rookie Making “Second Debut”
September 5, 2061: Marshall Islands – With the Bikini Krill continuing their unlikely run to the postseason and not preparing to host Portland in what could be a highly consequential 4-game series, Roger Sommerville’s unlikely arrival in the clubhouse seems like it should be considered preordained. The lefty from Cambridge (now, not that Cambridge, the likely unheard of one in Minnesota, you know?) saw selected out of the Coast Guard, deepish in the 2054 draft, and has bumped around for years, languishing in AA for four long years where his development was slow, but steady, then finding himself blocked by other pitchers…until…
Calgary selected him in this year’s Rule 5 draft. Which was a dream come true. He made his debut there in April, floating on air…until…
Lefty's Dream is
Still AliveHe threw 23 innings in 13 games, and posted a mind-bending 7.43 ERA and was returned to the Krill in mid-May. It should be noted that Somerville’s FIP was league average while in Calgary, so perhaps that 7.43 number was a bit fueled by unfortunate luck. Such is the way for older prospects, though, and at 27, Somerville thought his chance had passed him by. “I was pretty bummed, to be honest. And pissed, too. Mad at myself, really. Because that's the dream, right? Make it to the bigs. Then it all blew up and I thought it was over. The step from AA to the BBA is a pretty big one, though, and I just don’t think I really comprehended what was happening. I’m glad I had my family behind me. And in the end, going to Pasco might have been the best thing ever.”
By that, Sommerville is leaving out the fact that while he was licking his wounds and posting a solid 2.91 ERA with the AAA Platypus (numbers that aren’t particularly surprising given his progressions in AA), he met one Angie Gennaro, a local business owner, who he’s been dating steadily. Genarro’s influence has been apparent from that first moment.
“He really looks more put together right now,” one scout said. “He’s a guy who gets by on his control, so it’s important that he keep his poise.”
And now, the club—deciding it could use a lefty in long-relief as they face both Portland and Sacramento this coming week—has brought him up. There was some question that he might actually start a game or two, but he did pitch a few days back, and the schedule suggests that the team may need him more in the pen.
Regardless, Sommerville isn’t concerned.
“I’m looking at this as my second debut, you know? I just want to make the best of it. I figure it’s like building a business, if one fails that’s just a stone you step on to get to the next and then the next until you finally make it.”
For her part, Genarro says she’ll be there cheering Sommerville on. “He’s a good guy,” she said, smiling. “He’s going to be great.”
September 5, 2061: Marshall Islands – With the Bikini Krill continuing their unlikely run to the postseason and not preparing to host Portland in what could be a highly consequential 4-game series, Roger Sommerville’s unlikely arrival in the clubhouse seems like it should be considered preordained. The lefty from Cambridge (now, not that Cambridge, the likely unheard of one in Minnesota, you know?) saw selected out of the Coast Guard, deepish in the 2054 draft, and has bumped around for years, languishing in AA for four long years where his development was slow, but steady, then finding himself blocked by other pitchers…until…
Calgary selected him in this year’s Rule 5 draft. Which was a dream come true. He made his debut there in April, floating on air…until…
Lefty's Dream is
Still Alive
By that, Sommerville is leaving out the fact that while he was licking his wounds and posting a solid 2.91 ERA with the AAA Platypus (numbers that aren’t particularly surprising given his progressions in AA), he met one Angie Gennaro, a local business owner, who he’s been dating steadily. Genarro’s influence has been apparent from that first moment.
“He really looks more put together right now,” one scout said. “He’s a guy who gets by on his control, so it’s important that he keep his poise.”
And now, the club—deciding it could use a lefty in long-relief as they face both Portland and Sacramento this coming week—has brought him up. There was some question that he might actually start a game or two, but he did pitch a few days back, and the schedule suggests that the team may need him more in the pen.
Regardless, Sommerville isn’t concerned.
“I’m looking at this as my second debut, you know? I just want to make the best of it. I figure it’s like building a business, if one fails that’s just a stone you step on to get to the next and then the next until you finally make it.”
For her part, Genarro says she’ll be there cheering Sommerville on. “He’s a good guy,” she said, smiling. “He’s going to be great.”