The last time anyone saw Harrison Musgrave mowing batters down in Bridgeport was back in 2010. It was at that time that he helped lead Bridgeport High School to the Class AAA state championship game where they just fell short of yet another championship.

 

The last time anyone saw the 2010 BHS graduate doing the same to batters in the Big 12 Conference was back in 2014 when he was part of one of the best West Virginia University teams in recent years. He left after that season, his redshirt junior year, and put his amateur days behind him.

 

As most of you know, Musgrave didn’t leave because he was tired of playing the game. He didn’t leave the Mountaineers a year earlier than he had to because he was fatigued from the game. Rather, it appeared that he was going to be a high-level pick in the Major League Baseball draft and knew that the possibility existed that he could not only play professional baseball, but make it to “the show.”

 

Since being drafted in the eighth round of the MLB Draft in 2014, it appears to have been a good decision. The 24-year-old, who will turn 25 next month, is reaching a place where few from Harrison County have ever ventured and, according to www.baseballreference.com., he is near a place where no one from Bridgeport has ever been – and that’s close to the possibility of making a big league roster.

Right now, Musgrave is a member of the Class AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. The left-handed hurler is playing in the Pacific Coast League and that means he’s literally a stop away from potentially being called up to the majors.

 

How rare is it? For those of you who continually hear, or perhaps have even said, “I think that boy is going to the major leagues.” The numbers suggest otherwise and that what Musgrave is doing is indeed a rare trick.

 

Again, citing the aforementioned Web site, it’s been 43 years since an individual being listed from Harrison County was on a Major League Baseball roster. In fact, the entire list of players that made it to the show is a small one.

 

There’s Ken Ash from Anmoore, Babe Barna of Clarksburg, Bert Hamrick of Clarksburg, and Dick Brown and Larry Brown of Shinnston. Larry Brown, in 1974, was the last.

 

Even if there’s someone out there that I’ve missed or the Web site is incorrect on, it’s a moot point. Musgrave’s journey is a rare the lack of names listed above show just how rare.

 

The journey to get to the MLB level and play for the Rockies begins this month. In just a few short days, Musgraves said he’ll be reporting to Scottsdale, Arizona to spring training with the actual Colorado Rockies organization.

 

“I’ll be there for a while, probably a couple of weeks, and then they’ll send me down to the minor league,” said Musgrave. “I did the same thing last year so this is no surprise for me.”

 

Last year, though, Musgrave admitted being “there” was a pretty unique experience. The BHS grad was not only on the field with players he had watched on television, but was working and competing with them.

 

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was pretty cool to see the same guys you see on TV and meet them. The great thing is that they’re all down to earth; there wasn’t a big ego factor at all and everyone was welcoming to me,” said Musgrave. “Seeing guys like (Nolan) Arenado and (Carlos) Gonzalez was awesome, but you quickly put that out of your head. You’re there to show the organization you can play so you buckle down and do your job.”

 

In his time last year with Isotopes, Musgrave went 8-7 as a starting pitcher with a 4.30 earned run average. He struck out 79 and walked 40 and looks to improve on that this year. Before getting called up, he was at HFD and went 5-1 with a 1.79 ERA with 30 strikeouts and eight base on balls.

 

For those thinking Musgrave is getting his numbers like he did at BHS, they would be wrong. His entire approach has changed as the 6’1, 205 pound pitcher has progressed through the minors.

 

“I’m more of a hit the spot, mix-up specialist at this level. I don’t overpower people at this level and have to keep them off balance so that when they make contact it’s weak,” said Musgrave. “So far, that approach has been working.

 

“The biggest difference from college to ‘AAA’ is that the batters know the strike zone as well as the umpires and don’t chase no matter how hard you throw it. If you haven nothing but a fast ball eventually they’re all going to hit it,” he continued. “In college, you could get away with that. Here, at some point, you’ve got to out think who you are facing. That’s more the case the higher up the ladder you go.”

 

Understand, it’s not that Musgrave can’t bring it. His fastball is topping out at 94 miles per hour with occasional glimpses at 95. However, he’s now just as effective with the changeup, slider and curve ball.

 

“The changeup is my go-to pitch. It’s kind of been that way throughout the minor leagues,” said Musgrave. “The better you are with a high number of pitches, the better your chances are for success for your team and yourself.”

 

Here’s the thing: Musgrave wants to succeed and he wants to succeed badly. Here’s the other thing: He’s not really worried that he could be the first Harrison County player in nearly half a century to possibly make the Major Leagues.

 

“Pressure is something, no matter what the situation, that we unnecessarily put on ourselves. What I know is that if I do well I have a chance to perform, succeed and do well. If that means I’m the next guy from this area that’s great, but I don’t even think about that,” he said. “What I do know is that if I do poorly then I don’t deserve to go any further and that’s how I look at it. The good thing is that I’m confident I can develop more.”

 

Musgrave has progressed nicely from his minor league start in 2014. In a couple of years, he’s already to the Class AAA level.

 

“The upper management makes those decisions and they felt I had progressed well enough to get to ‘AAA’ in just a couple of years,” Musgrave said. “I’m pleased they saw the talent because they are the ones who make the decisions.”

And if the decision is made for Musgrave to get called up to the last and final level, he’s not going to be concerned at what type of role that will fall under.

 

“I’m a starting pitcher in the minors and if they call me up and that’s what they want, that’s what I’ll give them,” said Musgrave. “The reality is that the goal is to make it up so if they want me to start, come in for middle relief or to throw two pitches a game, I’ll do it. Whatever they need, at this level and hopefully the next, I’ll give it to them. I’m fully aware of the opportunity that’s in front of me.”

 

It’s definitely an opportunity. One that only comes around every four-plus decades in Harrison County.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Harrison Musgrave in the Colorado Rockies uniform that he hopes to wear one day, while he's show in his Isotopes uniform in the second photo. Third picture shows Musgrave during his time at WVU, while he's shown during previous minor league action in the bottom photo.