DETROIT -- A reunion with college teammate Zach McKinstry and pitching in the ballpark he cherished visiting as a youth both became realities this weekend for Orioles reliever Grant Wolfram.
The 6-foot-7 left-hander made his Major League debut for the Orioles in the second game of Saturday¡¯s doubleheader. He said about 30 family and friends from his small ¡°country¡± hometown of Hamilton, Mich., made the drive east on Interstate-94 to see him pitch. Wolfram walked a batter, gave up an RBI double to McKinstry and ended his only inning with a groundout.
¡°I actually played with McKinstry [at Central Michigan University],¡± Wolfram said before Sunday¡¯s game. ¡°He was the shortstop but played all over like he does now. He got that hit off me yesterday and gave me a nod and a wink. So, I saw him laughing and saying something to someone at second base.
¡°It¡¯s a special moment -- a cool opportunity. You can¡¯t predict any of that in the crazy world we live in. It¡¯s a surreal feeling. ¡ He¡¯s definitely gotten better with his power than when I played with him.¡±
Wolfram struck out McKinstry Sunday, when he gave up two runs on two hits before fanning his old buddy and getting Riley Greene to fly out and Spencer Torkelson to pop up to shortstop to end the inning.
¡°It was just a cool opportunity there,¡± Wolfram said. ¡°It¡¯s cool to get a second shot at him and get him this time. But, I just wish I¡¯d had better overall results.¡±
Wolfram said no glances were exchanged with McKinstry after Sunday¡¯s at-bat.
The drive to Comerica Park from the west side of the state, and not far from Lake Michigan, was one he made many times with his father and other family members. He recalled seeing Justin Verlander -- his favorite pitcher -- beat the Yankees in the 2011 postseason and Miguel Cabrera hitting a milestone homer in 2012.
¡°Delmon Young hit a home run in the row in front of us in left field,¡± recalled Wolfram of the big hit in Verlander¡¯s 5-4 win over the Yankees. ¡°Another game, I saw Miggy¡¯s 300th home run."