Page 76 of Catching Dreams

“Hey, how do you think you guys will do against the Coyotes today?” I asked him.

“We’ve got our ace on the mound, so I think we’ll do okay,” Landon said. “I heard the Coyotes starting catcher, Scott Roberts, got injured in a car accident this morning. Is he okay?”

“He broke his arm when the airbag deployed, so he’s going to be out for a few weeks. Other than that, I think he’s okay. I guess the other car ran a red light. It could have been a lot worse.”

“Are they just going to use their backup catcher now?”

I tried to hold back my smile. “Yeah, they are going to start Johnston.”

“What’s with the change in your voice?” Landon asked. He knew me way too well, just as Molly did. “No way! Please tell me you’re saying what I think you’re saying.”

“I’m coming up, brother,” I said and had to laugh. “And my first game is against your team tonight!”

“This is unreal! I’m so proud of you, Ty! Have you told Mom and Dad yet?”

“You’re my second call after Molly. She said she’d call Mom and Dad and let them know.” I couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m so excited but nervous, too.”

“Is there any chance of Molly coming to the game?” Landon asked.

“Probably not with seven-month-old babies and it being very last minute. We didn’t even talk about it, actually. She cried harder than I did when I told her I was moving up.” I told him about how Olivia said her first word and Hazel being excited about watching baseball.

Landon had to laugh. “That’s awesome, T. You’ll have to tell the girls that story when they get older about your first time up to the majors.”

“She was so proud, Landon. I lucked out with her.”

“Bro, you found the perfect girl for you! Maybe, someday, I’ll find someone.” Landon told me he had to go see the trainer, but he couldn’t wait to see me tonight.

I still couldn’t believe I was heading to Miami to play for the Coyotes against the Jaguars.

“Stone! Did you hear me?”

I shook my head to come back to the present and looked up at my new manager, Harry Schroeder. “I’m sorry, Sir. I missed what you said.”

“Get your helmet and bat ready. If Wilson reaches base, I want your bat up there.”

I nodded and took a deep breath. I didn’t have time to be nervous, and I felt confident. I knew everything about the Jaguars’ ace pitcher, Chuck Bradley. I had a feeling he probably didn’t know much about me, other than maybe that I was Landon’s brother.

I stood on the top step of the dugout with my bat in hand and watched as they intentionally walked Dean Wilson. I knew they had walked him with first base being open because they wanted to pitch to the new rookie, me.

I strode towards the batter's box and remembered how it had felt playing my very first t-ball game. I was so excited to play ball with my brothers, and I was sure I was going to hit the ball the hardest. I felt that same excitement now, but I tried to tamp it down and walk as calmly to the box as I could. I loved that Landon was out on the field today, just like he had been in the ballpark behind the elementary school. I stepped up to the plate and heard the announcer say, “.... making his Major League debut for the Coyotes, number 17, catcher Tyler Stone.” I was sure the broadcasters were all having a field day with my debut happening while playing against my brother’s team. I do wish Carter could be here, too. I took a cleansing breath and tuned out everything except for Bradley on the mound.

He looked at me, took a wind up, and threw a wicked curveball that I watched go in the catcher’s glove. Thanks for the welcome to the major's gift, I thought to myself. Bradley had only three pitches, but he excelled at all three of them. I had a feeling he would test me with his slider next. I knew he liked the outside corner of the strike zone, and I was ready for it. I swung my bat and hit the ball hard. I watched as it soured to the right and into the stands for a foul ball. Darn it. I knew he wouldn’t give me that pitch again. His next pitch was a high fast ball that I watched soar by me. I was relieved when the umpire called it a ball. I was ready for his next pitch, the curve again. I put all of my energy into my hands holding the bat and squared it to the ball. I shocked myself when I made contact with the ball again. I swung through the pitch and watched as the ball flew straight towards my brother. I dropped my bat and began to run to first base. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the ball soared over Landon’s outstretched glove and over the wall. I pointed at my brother and then tried to run calmly around the bases. My heart was pounding so hard, and I felt like I was running on clouds. I couldn’t believe my first major league hit was a 3-run homerun. I hoped they would be able to get the ball back because I knew it would mean a lot to Molly.

When I got to home plate, I was excited to see a lot of the team there to greet me and congratulate me on my first hit, which tied the score. Johnston patted me on the back and said, “See, I told you that you should be out there. I’ll happily take my place as backup catcher again.”

I did play the rest of the game behind the plate and loved every minute of it. The crowd amped me up, even their jeers and boos when Barnes and I worked together to strike out their two best players. When Landon came up to bat, I gave him a huge grin from behind my mask.

“You suck, T. Stone,” Landon said as he got in his stance and brought his bat up over his shoulder. “But I really wish you were on my team.”

I had to laugh along with him. Two pitches later, I let out a groan as Landon hit a line drive off Barnes’s fastball. I watched as he stretched a double into a triple when there was a fielding error.

The next batter hit it hard and just past our third baseman, Lucas Chapman. He was able to retrieve the ball and throw it as fast as he could towards me as Landon slid into home. I caught the ball and touched him with my glove just as he touched the plate. We both lay on top of home plate next to each other and looked up at the umpire at the same time. The umpire crossed his arms, then brought them back out in a wide motion and yelled, “SAFE!”

There was grumbling from the visitor dugout, but I knew the call could have gone either way. Landon and I both got up from the ground and shared a hug.

We ended up winning the game in extra innings, thanks to a walk-off home run by Dallas Miller. It was an awesome first game that I would never forget.

While I was standing at my locker, I grabbed my phone and saw a bunch of missed text messages. I couldn’t be more shocked at the first text message, which was a picture message. It showed Molly holding one of our girls in her arms. She had on little noise-blocking headphones. Next to her was my mom, holding our other daughter, wearing the same headphones. Mom was wearing a Coyote jersey. Dad was taking the selfie and had the biggest smile on his face. I noticed that he was wearing a Jaguar jersey to support Landon. The message under the picture said: “Tyler Stone’s biggest fans!”

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