Diamondbacks' Jake Hager pitches in to help team wherever needed
Jake Hager played in his seventh game for the Diamondbacks on Sunday. His sixth game saw the longtime utility player do something he hadn't done since high school: pitch in a game.
Hager came on in the ninth inning of a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday and threw 12 total pitches to six hitters. Three of the first four Dodgers batters hit the first pitch and one the second, and Hager gave up two runs on three hits in his inning of work.
Hager settled down and retired the last two hitters he faced, including a strikeout of the Dodgers' Gavin Lux. Hager walked off the mound with a smile, and retained the ball from his first major league strikeout.
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"I mean, I did not expect to pitch at all. Danny (assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson) came up to me in the seventh inning and said, 'Hey man, we're gonna need you to throw the ninth, and I was like, 'Oh no, really?'" Hager recalled on Sunday.
Admittedly a little nervous, Hager went down into the batting cage to warm up. All he hoped to do was throw strikes, which was what coaches told him to do regardless of velocity.
When Hager got two strikes on Lux, he wanted the strikeout. "So I kind of let it go a little bit more and painted that fastball inside. It was a fun experience, especially first time doing it in a big league game."
The strikeout ball has been certified and will get a protective frame as a special memento of Hager's career.
Hager, a 29-year-old Las Vegas native, has bounced around all over the country as a professional baseball player since being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 32nd overall pick of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft. He's in his fifth organization, including two stints in the Milwaukee Brewers' system.
Hager has made minor league stops in Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina, Colorado, Mississippi, Texas, Washington state, upstate New York, Tennessee and Nevada.
"It's been it's been a crazy journey, man. You know, it took me 10 years to finally make it. And I've always told myself, I just want to say that I made it," Hager said. He started the 2021 season with the New York Mets organization and was waived three times, also by the Brewers and Seattle Mariners, before being claimed by the Diamondbacks .
As difficult as all the moving around has been, Hager chooses to keep a positive mind frame.
"It's been a dream come true. Very fortunate to be where I'm at and I'm doing whatever I can to help the team. I love this opportunity, and trying to make the best of it," Hager said. "Last year was a crazy year (because I) was with six different teams. But then once I got here, man, they treated me like family. I really like it here. They're great to me."
His ability to play multiple positions helped Hager get the callup from Triple-A Reno on May 16, when Nick Ahmed was placed on the injured list with COVID complications. Ahmed has yet to return and is slowly working himself back into playing condition.
Hager has spoken with Ahmed often, if only just for some advice and encouragement.
"He helps me out a lot. The biggest thing up here, man, especially when you're not playing every day, it's just you know, continue to do your work and stay positive and stay confident in yourself," Hager said.
Short hops
*Daulton Varsho returned to the Diamondbacks after missing Saturday's game with upper back soreness, coming in to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth. He flied out in his lone at-bat. Manager Torey Lovullo said Varsho is feeling better after being hit with a pitch early in Friday's game, and was OK to pinch hit. "If we needed a big at-bat, he was ready to go," Lovullo said, adding that Varsho is expected to be ready to return to the lineup Monday in the series opener against the Atlanta Braves.
*C Jose Herrera limped after running out an infield hit in the seventh inning but remained in the game. Lovullo said Herrera twisted an ankle but was fine.
*Luis Urueta coached first base for the Diamondbacks Sunday, with Dave McKay still out due to COVID symptoms. Lovullo said there's a chance McKay, who's being tested regularly, could be back with the team Monday.
*The Diamondbacks celebrated Native American Recognition Day Sunday, with traditional dancers and drummers/singers on the field before the game and a parade for youth teams that took part in this past week's 22nd annual Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball and Softball Tournament.
Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks' Jake Hager pitches in wherever needed in latest MLB stint
