It wasn’t much different from most days Bridgeport High School alum Harrison Musgrave has dealt with since he began his journey in Minor League baseball hoping to get a shot at being part of a Major League Baseball roster. It was Monday, April 23, 2018.

 

“I was just sitting in my hotel room. There was nothing unusual about the day,” said Musgrave who was still a member of the Colorado Rockies Class AAA team the Albuquerque Isotopes.

 

That would change. And it would change in a very big way on that particular day as a phone call was not only going to make the day extraordinary, but it was going to help Musgrave fulfill a dream so many youngsters have.

 

“I got a call from our manager (Glenallen Hill) and he told me that I was getting fined for him not having my number in his phone. I kind of paused for a second and then he told me I better get to Denver because the Rockies needed me to come up and pitch. He always likes to make it a bit special by pulling your leg if you get called up,” said Musgrave.

 

When he hung up the phone, Musgrave said he went a little bit numb. He said he noticed one thing and then knew immediately to do another.

 

“I could tell I had a really fast heartbeat so I was instantly excited. Then, I knew I had to tell my family and to hear their excitement and for them to hear my reaction was one of the best moments of the whole thing,” said Musgrave. “That moment, that day, was just awesome and not because you get to tell people you’re going to the Major Leagues. It’s awesome because you know how rare and special it is for you to know you’re going to be actually living your dream.”

 

In short order, Harrison Musgrave was on his way to Coors Field in Denver. Once there and once the game started, Musgrave didn’t have to wait long as he pitched on the same day he was called up.

 

It’s safe to say the debut was a success. Musgrave sat down the San Diego Padres he faced in one inning of work in order on 10 pitches, including one strikeout. The other two batters grounded out.

 

“I was actually pretty calm, especially after throwing that first pitch. As big as a deal as it is, you have to realize that you’re out there doing a job,” said Musgrave. “It turned out nice because I threw strikes, hit my spots and accomplished what they wanted me to accomplish. My job is to keep doing that in whatever situation they call me on to do it.”

 

While plenty of folks were able to watch the game via various cable packages, one person locally was able to see the game in person. Musgrave said his father Gary made the trip to Coors Field and got to see the first game and first pitch of his son’s Major League career.

 

“It was nice he was there, but no one told me he was coming. He just showed up after calling me to tell me he was on his way to Denver. I could tell he knew I was excited, but I think he and my mother (Joyce) were more excited,” said Musgrave.

 

While Musgrave’s father got to see the first game, Joyce along with his brother Preston and Preston’s wife were hoping to see him in his next series. Joyce met Gary in Pittsburgh and they flew to Miami for a series with the Marlins, while Preston flew in from Hawaii.

 

That was the good news. The bad news? Musgrave’s services as a middle reliever weren’t needed in the entire Miami series.

 

“It was still good to see family,” said Musgrave. “It was neat to have everyone there and see me actually wearing the uniform.”

 

Through Saturday, Musgrave had appeared in four games. Along with a strong showing against the Padres, he’s also pitched against the Cubs and in two games against the Brewers. He had a two-inning stint May 10 against the cubs where he didn’t allowed a hit or a run and walked just one.

 

Through the four appearances, Musgrave has pitched 5.2 innings and yielded three hits, one run (a home run), three walks and struck out two. He has a 1.59 earned run average.

 

Not too bad for the former standout for West Virginia University. And definitely not too shabby for the Harrison County kid that began his career at Notre Dame and finished it at Bridgeport High School where he led the Indians to a Class AAA title game appearance.

 

“I do miss those days in Bridgeport, but it’s definitely a lot different from caravanning three hours to play at Martinsburg or a team in the panhandle. I mean it’s really different because you just hop on a plane and leave Denver and a few hours later you’re in San Diego in your hotel room,” said Musgrave. “I guess it goes without saying … the amenities in the Majors are pretty nice from the crowds, to having things taken care of and the travel.”

 

As for transitioning to the MLB players and the clubhouse, Musgrave said it wasn’t too difficult. He’s actually spent extended time with the Rockies during the last two spring seasons so he knew many of the players and faces.

 

“Everybody here is really nice. I think it’s helped the last few years with the two spring trainings and being around a lot of the same people,” he said. “There wasn’t anything awkward.”

 

One other thing isn’t awkward. And that’s Musgrave’s approach to his current situation. Although he remained with the club after the player he was brought up for returned, he knows there are no guarantees for one of the very few job openings available in his profession.

 

“I think a lot of people believe once you’re called up you’re here forever for the rest of your career and that’s not the case. What you definitely have to do is work hard because if you don’t perform you don’t stay and it is cutthroat,” Musgrave said. “It has to be that way because the goal is to win.

 

“The thing I realize is that if the club has other needs at other positions and needs to send someone down then I can get sent back down,” he continued. “I can’t control that. What I can control is going out there and doing everything they need me to do to make a decision to send me down harder. Once you’re here, you want to do everything you can to stay.”

 

Best of luck Harrison on that quest. You have an entire county and state behind you.

 

Editor's Note: Top two photos show Harrison Musgrave in his Major League debut, while he's shown in the third photo during his time at West Virginia University. Bottom photo (along with top two courtesy of Musgrave's Facebook page) show Musgrave, center, with teammates Nunzio Bonamico, left, and Jeremy Hodge.