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Former Durant star pitcher Tyler Danish debuts in the Show

 
Tyler Danish, 21, made his big league debut in June against the world champion Royals.
Tyler Danish, 21, made his big league debut in June against the world champion Royals.
Published July 13, 2016

It was a typical weeknight for Tyler Danish. The former Durant High star was relaxing in his apartment after a long day at the ballfield. Danish kicked on Net­flix and settled in to watch.

Just before midnight, the phone rang.

"I picked it up and it was my manager," Danish said. "He asked me what I was watching. Then he told me that I'd never forget that show because I'd be going to Chicago tomorrow."

Danish was re-watching Prison Break but the call turned out to be his big break. Ryan Newman, the Double-A Birmingham skipper, delivered the news that Danish would be heading to the Show.

"My heart went to my stomach," Danish said. "It's something I always waited and dreamed about. I had to take a few deep breaths."

Danish, the 2013 Tampa Bay Times Hillsborough County Player of the Year, wound up fast-tracked to Chicago. The White Sox picked him in the second round (55th overall) that year in the Major League Baseball draft, and even though he had never pitched above the Double-A level, Danish found himself taking the mound June 11.

"It was my plan to get up there at some point this year," said Danish, 21. "But not quite at that particular time, so yeah, it was a little surprising."

Danish contacted his family and friends, including former Durant coach Butch Valdes, as soon as he heard the news.

"He's like one of our own kids," Valdes said. "We've been waiting for the call because you know what type of special young man he is."

One of the first big leaguers to greet Danish was White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier, who competed in Tuesday's All-Star Game home run derby.

"Luckily enough I've been invited to major league spring training so I've got to know quite a few guys," Danish said. "I had been talking to Todd a few weeks before being called up and he just kept reminding me to continue what I was doing and when the time comes, the time would come."

Danish made his big league debut with runners on first and second with no outs against the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals. His first challenge? All-Star centerfielder Lorenzo Cain.

"After the first batter I was fine," Danish said. "Chris Sale told me once you get the first one out of the way, it gets better. He was 100 percent correct."

Danish got Cain to ground out but wound up surrendering an earned run on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. He then pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning against the Royals before giving up an earned run on a pair of hits to Detroit in his next appearance.

Danish was sent down to Triple-A Charlotte the following day.

"Todd told me when he first got called up, he got sent down the next day," Danish said. "I just want to apply everything I've learned, get back up there and then stick."

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He was 3-7 with a 4.42 ERA at Birmingham before the call­up. Since being sent down, Danish is 0-2 with a 12.47 ERA at Charlotte.

"Getting back is always the hardest thing," Danish said. "But it's my dream and I'm going to keep working to reach it again."

Although Danish doesn't possess the classic right-hander's build, Valdes said his intangibles cannot be pigeonholed by a tape measure.

"He's not your 6-foot-4, cookie-cutter righty," Valdes said. "But his will to win and the way he plays the type of game are just different. He was a once-in-a-lifetime kid, and we knew it right when he got here."

Danish said he fully expects to get back to Chicago and took the demotion in stride. But even if he never again toes a major-league rubber, he has plenty of irreplaceable memories.

"Being in Triple A put me on my natural progression path, so that's a good thing," he said. "To be where I am in less than three years from where I was, has been a great experience. And if I never make it back, I can always tell my kids I made it."