MLB Hoosiers (Sept. 13): Jonathan Stiever Dominates After Shaky Start in MLB Debut

In the thick of a pennant race, the Chicago White Sox turned to Jonathan Stiever to make a start on Sunday, and he did just fine in his major-league debut, retiring the last nine batters he faced.

It's always been Jonathan Stiever's dream to pitch in the major leagues. That dream came true on Sunday afternoon, a year or so ahead of schedule, when he took the mound for the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The dream, however, almost turned into an instant nightmare because the 23-year-old former Indiana star was so nervous that he couldn't find the plate early, walking his first two batters. Two more singles followed and the White Sox were scrambling to get someone else warmed up.

But Stiever ended the threat with his first big-league strikeout, allowing just one run. He then retired the final nine batters he faced, going 3 2/3 innings, allowing just that one run and striking out three during his 73-pitch outing.

He's a big-leaguer now. 

“In the first, there wasn’t much there, to be honest,'' Stiever said after Chicago's 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. "I was just trying to settle back in and find my mechanics. Finding out (about the start) a couple days ago, sort of building up and everything, the nerves were definitely there.” 

Stiever said that mound visits from pitching coach Don Cooper and veteran catcher James McCann helped calm him down. He was lights out after that, dominating one Tigers hitter after another.

“That gave me a second to catch my breath, and slow my heart rate down, and then figure out the plan for the hitter coming up,” Stiever said of the mound visits. “It took a little bit for me to settle in, but I was able to quiet things down and go back with a plan for the next hitter.”

Stiever is the seventh former Indiana baseball player to see action in the major leagues this year, which is a school record. The Cedarburg, Wis., native pitched at Indiana from 2016 to 2018 and was a fifth-round selection by Chicago in the 2018 MLB Draft.

“He gave us what he was able to give us,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “He kept us in the game. He got out of first-inning traffic, kept his composure and did what he needed to do.”

Hold on to that baseball, MLB strikeout no. 1! pic.twitter.com/yAPRyT1wpg

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 13, 2020

The White Sox are a young team right at the end of a complete rebuild, and now they are one of the most dangerous teams in baseball, winning mostly with young talent acquired in trades the past few years.

They are 30-16 on the season, and have the best record in the American League by a half-game over the Tampa Bay Rays. They have a one-game lead over the Minnesota Twins, a team they'll see the next four days in Chicago, in the AL Central. They are just two weeks left in the regular season, and Stiever is now here to help.

“[The White Sox] have done a really nice job in that organization of drafting and developing talent, and they've made a couple of great pickups to put that team on the field,” Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire said. “And that is a very, very good team. I don't think they're going to go away, because they have some great young talent.”

Yes they do, and now you can add Jonathan Stiever to that mix.

Hoosiers in the Pros on Sunday

• Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs: Schwarber was 0-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored in the Cubs' 12-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The highlight of the day was watching teammate Alec Mills throw a no-hitter against the Brewers. The Cubs, who are 28-20, are still in first place in the NL Central, leading the St. Louis Cardinals by four games with 12 to go.
• Aaron Slegers, Tampa Bay Rays: Slegers pitched three scoreless innings in the Rays' 6-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. His ERA is down to 3.98 now, which is saying something after he gave up five runs in his debut. He's given up only four runs in his last 18 1/3 innings. The Rays are 30-17 and in first place in the American League East with 13 games to go. They have a 3.5-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays, and a 4-game lead over the New York Yankees.
• Alex Dickerson San Francisco Giants: Dickerson was a combined 1-for-5 during a doubleheader where the Giants lost both games to the Padres. Prior to the game, Dickerson took USA TODAY to task for accusing him of breaking protocol on the road trip. For that complete story, CLICK HERE
• Caleb Baragar, San Francisco Giants: Baragar did not pitch in either game of the Giants' doubleheader with the San Diego.
• Kyle Hart, Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox placed Hart on the 10-day injury list on Sept. 2. He is eligible to return, but the Red Sox have not announced any roster moves regarding Hart as of yet.