Harrison Musgrave wasn't that different from every other kid he grew up with in his small community in Harrison County, and that included his older brothers Preston and Tyler. He would often find himself out in the backyard of his Nutter Fort home playing baseball with his friends and family. And like everyone else playing those pickup game, he hoped those games would take him to a certain place when he was older.

 

“We were like everyone else playing the game in the backyard. We all thought about being a Major League player, being in the bottom of the ninth and getting that game-winning home run,” said Musgrave. “I think we all had that dream, but it just doesn’t usually become reality.”

 

It’s here where Musgrave is different from practically every other kid he grew up with in Nutter Fort, as well as those from Bridgeport, Harrison County and well beyond. On Wednesday, Musgrave actually began his professional baseball league in the Colorado Rockies minor league system. He’s officially a member of the Grand Junction Rockies, competing in the Pioneer League.

 

“It’s pretty cool and it’s pretty exciting to be here,” said Musgrave. “I have to look at this as a new experience and a new opportunity after I was fortunate enough to have a pretty good college career.”

 

Pretty good may be an understatement. Musgrave finished the 2014 season, his junior year as a pitcher for West Virginia University, with a 5-3 record. His final totals included  a 2.62 earned run average, while striking out 87 in 106.1 innings with a .227 opponent batting average.

 

As a sophomore, he earned All-American status and was the Big 12 pitcher of the year. The 2013 season saw him finish with a 9-1 record where he also posted a 2.17 ERA and tossed three complete games. In 95.1 innings of work as a sophomore, Musgrave struck out 81 batters and allowed just 65 hits

 

Good stuff right? So good in fact that he was a lock to be drafted this year, but there would be no big leadup for Musgrave before the draft or celebration after.

 

For those that know Musgrave, they know he’s not overly impressed with himself and avoids hyperbole if possible. Harrison said that his mother and father – Joyce and Gary Musgrave – wanted to have a party the night he ended up being drafted in the 8^th round of the Major League Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He said they also wanted others to know he officially signed June 10. He, however, just wanted to keep it low key and flew out of town June 12 with no fanfare.

 

“That’s just not something I’m really interested in,” said Musgrave. “It’s all right to just go out and play.”

 

Although not one to sing his own praises, he had to be pleased with what transpired this past Wednesday when he played for the first time with the Grand Junction squad. He went into the game knowing he was going to pitch three innings or 45 pitches – whichever came first. As it turned out, he went three innings and one would be hard pressed to say his professional baseball debut wasn’t a success.

 

In three innings of work, Musgrave not only didn’t allow a run, he also didn’t give up a hit. He struck out one batter as he pitched in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Adding to the impressive night is that Musgrave took part in what ended up being the longest extra-inning game in the Grand Junction’s team’s history – a 5-4 win in 13 innings.

 

Perhaps the reason he wasn’t rattled heading into the spotlight is that he’s done it before. He knows that jumping from Notre Dame as a freshman and sophomore to Bridgeport High School for his junior and senior seasons to what ended up being the Big 12 stage was a huge leap.

 

“That was new because you’re a small town kid from a small area playing against these big programs and I just loved to compete against those teams (in the Big 12),” said Musgrave. “I think I was comfortable because there wasn’t much difference when I played at Notre Dame and Bridgeport. At both schools, we always played the best teams that we could and that helped me.”

 

Another thing that helped was his family. Musgrave was very quick to credit his older brothers and his father on the athletic front. He said he had no choice but to excel and try to get better.

 

“If anyone knows (my father) and my two brothers, they they’re the type to push you. I never had time to be a relaxed kid that had all kinds of issues to deal with because (my father) expected you to do your best and that’s paying off for me now,” said Musgrave. “That was the way for all of us growing up and even into high school.”

 

Heading into high school, Musgrave has already watched his brothers dominate the local scene in multiple sports. He said watching them play before he hit the prep scene was an inspiration. And he candidly admits that on an overall athletic front he couldn’t compete with either of them.

 

“It was cool to watch them play sports and do their thing. All three of us, though, are entirely different people; and they’re actually more alike than me with sports,” said Musgrave. “They’re good at everything and I was just good at pitching.”

 

It appears that Musgrave was able to take advantage of the one thing he felt was his strongest athletic asset quite well as it's landed him in the Rocky Mountains. And now he’s adjusting to life in Grand Junction, Colorado.

 

“It’s awesome here. It’s been between 90 and 95 degrees with no humidity. I’m definitely not missing the humidity from back home,” he said with a laugh.

 

Beyond the weather, everything else is on a learning curve. However, Musgrave said he’s taking things in stride and will have to continue to adapt if he’s fortunate enough to advance.

 

“Everybody’s been great here from my coaches to the players. It has helped because they’re very welcoming. It’s another team and a new family,” said Musgrave. “I’m more comfortable at the baseball field, but I can get around (Grand Junction) if I have to and I have my GPS if I get lost.

 

“The trickiest thing is learning how to pronounce some of the Dominican players’ names, but I’ll learn,” he continued. “It’s all part of the learning process. I’m just getting started so I have a lot to learn.”

 

Editor's Note: Second photo courtesy of Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com. All other photos courtesy of WVU Sports Communications.