RHP Tommy Eveld takes us through his unexpected path to pro baseball."WhiteFanpo

sts Sections News & RumorsAnalysisPodcastsProspects & DraftGame CoverageFull ArchiveMasthead Social Marlins Players on TwitterFish Stripes on InstagramMarlins Media Members Fish Stripes Best of 2018 Marlins StoriesScheduleRosterStatsCommunity Guidelines StubHub iami Marlins Prospects and Draft CoverageFish Stripes ExclusivesMarlins find a winner in “Touchdown Tommy”RHP Tommy Eveld takes us through his unexpected path to pro baseball.ByLuis Davila@luisrdaviOct8 Ross Stripling Jersey , 2018,8:30am EDTShareTweetShareShareMarlins find a winner in “Touchdown Tommy”In his short stint with Double-A Jacksonville this season, Eveld struck out 14 batters in 9 2? innings to go along with a 0.93 ERA.Photo by John Fountain PhotographyThe Marlins entered the 2018 season with plans to flip some of their remaining major league veterans for young talent. Not BradZiegler—owed a $9 million salary at age 38, he was a sunk cost, not an asset. Then the season began and it looked even more impossible to find a trade partner. Ziegler struggled throughout April and May, briefly holding the closer’s job until a particularly painful loss in San Diego.He was taken out of that role, and then something funny happened: Brad Ziegler could do no wrong. He emerged as one of the Marlins’ most lights-out relief pitchers at the ideal time, carrying a 0.93 earned run average in June and July combined. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsThat re-established success for a guy with such a long track record allowed the Marlins to salvage something out of a bad and expiring contract. On July 31, they made a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and received right-handed pitcher TommyEveld in return.Eveld’s path to the Marlins organization was definitely unorthodox. He quit baseball in high school, played his way onto the University of South Florida’s football team, and then walked on to the school’s baseball program to restart his baseball career. While Eveld has never been at the top of prospect lists, he’s done everything in his power to be taken seriously as a future major league reliever. After three professional seasons, he owns a beautiful 1.88 career ERA.Towards the end of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s season, I had the opportunity to ask Tommy all about his journey and find out what sets him apart from other baseball players.When did you first start playing baseball and what drew your attention to it?Photo by @coachmark123/TwitterThat’s one of the things about you that stands out. You actually moved on from baseball and dedicated your time to football. At what point did football start to enter the frame and why did you decide to commit to football full-time?(A pretty impressive alumni class, wouldn’t you say?)What were some of the highlights from your time on the Jesuit High School football team?What was it like walking on to USF’s football program? Could you describe some of the obstacles you faced while you were there?Eveld at football practice.Photo courtesy of University of South Florida AthleticsYou mentioned your knee. What happened there?What did you learn from your rehab process and how does that knowledge contribute to the way you prepare physically today?When you made the switch, did anything stand out to you http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-max-muncy-jersey , in terms of culture, coaching styles, etc, between baseball and football?Do you bring any aspects of football with you when you get on a baseball field?In your second college season, you made a huge statistical leap. What contributed to that success and what did you learn about the craft of pitching in that period?Eveld pitching at USF.Photo by Travis Pendergrass/Full Focus PhotographyClearly that success was noted by the Diamondbacks organization. What was it like getting your name called at the MLB draft?What type of impact did your family have on your journey through football and into professional baseball?So you get traded to the Miami Marlins on July 31. Was there any indication prior to the deal that you could be involved in a trade? What was going through your mind once you were told you were headed to the Marlins organization?What is the difference in mentality when you come to pitch in relief as opposed to starting a game?Your scouting report says you throw a mid-90s fastball with a hard slider along with a curveball and a changeup. But in the California League All-Star game this year you threw a knuckleball. Have you thrown that pitch in-game beforehand? Have you considered making it a regular feature of your arsenal?What type of mental preparation do you make prior to facing specific teams? Do you implement analytics in that process?You will be joining the Salt River Rafters along with a few other Marlins prospects for the Arizona Fall League. What are you looking forward to accomplish there? [RELATED link]World Series, Game 7, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, tie game, 3-2 count. What pitch are you going to?The possibilities of you making the Marlins 25-man roster at some point next season seem pretty high. Is that something that you think of a lot? How did the nickname “Touchdown Tommy” come about?It was an absolute pleasure to interview Tommy Eveld and to learn about his journey to the Marlins organization. I’d like to thank Tommy for being gracious enough for the interview and wish him the best as he continues his journey to the major leagues with the Miami Marlins.Thank you for reading, until next time! CLEVELAND (AP) — Trevor Bauer never backs down from any challenge or debate. He accepted this call.Health mattered more than history.Bauer was pulled by manager Terry Francona after seven hitless innings and 117 pitches, and sat in the dugout watching as Toronto’s Freddy Galvis broke up Cleveland’s bid for a combined no-hitter with a leadoff single in the ninth inning of the Indians‘ 4-1 win Thursday night.Bauer was attempting to throw Cleveland’s first no-hitter in 38 years — on the 25th anniversary of Progressive Field’s opening — but was taken out when his pitch count climbed too high for Francona.Bauer understood the move.“It was the right decision,” he said.Once Bauer was out, Jon Edwards came in and got two outs before closer Brad Hand worked out of a bases-loaded jam. Hand, however, gave up a hard single to center by Galvis. Moments later Joc Pederson Jersey , Alen Hansen followed with Toronto’s second hit and the Blue Jays scored before Hand struck out two for his third save.Bauer (1-0) was six outs away from completing his no-hitter, when Francona removed him as a precautionary measure. The right-hander may have been able to go farther — he threw a career-high 127 pitches last season — but on a chilly night and with so much season left, Francona played it cautiously.“I didn’t want to take him out,” Francona said. “He said he knew it was the right thing. I told him I hate it. He goes, ‘I hate it, too, but I know it’s the right thing.’ I care too much about him and this organization to hurt somebody. I would have loved to have seen it because I don’t doubt that he would have kept pitching and probably not given up a hit the way he was throwing.“I just have an obligation to do the right thing, even when it’s not the funnest thing to do,” he said.The enigmatic Bauer, best known for his quirky personality and unorthodox training methods, had only himself to blame for throwing too many pitches earlier in the game against Toronto’s weak lineup.“I knew it was probably time to come out,” he said. “That being said, I think my velocity was higher in that last inning probably than all innings. My stuff was sharp. If I’d gone back out, I feel like I would have gotten it, but it’s a long season. We’re in the second week of it.”The odd developments prevented Bauer from ending Cleveland’s no-hit drought, which dates to May 15 http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-max-muncy-jersey , 1981, when Len Barker threw a perfect game against the Blue Jays.Bauer’s performance was anything but pristine. He walked six — including two in the third when he also hit a batter — and even though he struck out eight, was never dominant against a Blue Jays team that has come close to being no-hit several times this season.On opening day, Detroit’s Jordan Zimmermann was perfect against the Blue Jays until giving up an infield single with two outs in the seventh. Baltimore’s David Hess was pulled with a no-hitter intact after 6 1/3 innings Monday at Toronto.“Even though Bauer had a no-hitter, he wasn’t as sharp as he usually is,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “But premier pitchers find a way to get it done, and he did.”Aaron Sanchez (1-1) took the loss.Before his pitch count got too high, Bauer was backed by some terrific fielding, highlighted by first baseman Carlos Santana’s diving stop to rob Socrates Brito of a possible hit to end the fifth inning. In the sixth, right fielder Tyler Naquin ran down Rowdy Tellez’s sinking liner toward the line.The Indians have had numerous close calls over the years since Barker’s gem. Despite having several Cy Young winners and All-Stars, none of Cleveland’s pitchers have been able to make history and now Bauer has a near miss.“I don’t really care about a no-hitter or not,” he said. “I care about putting up zeroes for the team and winning. I care about coming to the ballpark and seeing the fans and the seeing the people of Cleveland. I care about my teammates and trying to win a World Series.“If I throw a no-hitter that’s great. If not that’s great too as long as we win the game. “BAUER POWERBauer, who went seven strong innings at Minnesota last week, is the first pitcher in history to start the season with consecutive starts of at least five innings and allow just one hit.He’s the first pitcher since 1934 to open the season allowing one hit or fewer in back-to-back outings of seven innings.TRAINER’S ROOMBlue Jays: 1B Justin Smoak was pulled from the original lineup because of a sore neck.Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Friday. He hopes to return during a road trip next week. The two-time All-Star strained his right calf late in spring training. Kipnis took grounders before Thursday’s game.UP NEXTThe four-game series continues Friday with Blue Jays RHP Trent Thornton facing Indians RHP Shane Bieber. Thornton struck out eight over five innings in his major league debut on March 31 at Detroit. Bieber makes his first start this season. He went 11-5 with a 4.55 ERA as a rookie in 2018.