WYMAN AND BOB

Mariners’ Steve Delabar talks about path to big leagues

Sep 7, 2011, 5:20 PM | Updated: 5:23 pm

Delabar2
The Mariners called up relief pitcher Steve Delabar and two other players from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday. (AP)

By Jacob Thorpe
Special to 710Sports.com

Of all the new September call-ups finding their way around the Mariners clubhouse, perhaps none took a more circuitous route to the big leagues than relief pitcher Steve Delabar.

As the Padres’ 29th round pick in the 2003 draft, it was already a long shot for Delabar to ever make it to the majors. When he needed to get a steel plate surgically inserted into his throwing elbow in 2009, and had never made it past A ball, it seemed like it might be time for Delabar to hang up his cleats and pursue his other dream: Becoming a teacher.

And so he did. Delabar took classes at the University of Louisville and began working as a substitute teacher and baseball coach. But he kept throwing, working out at his friend’s indoor facility and under his tutelage Delabar got his velocity up to the mid-90’s. That was enough to impress Mariners scout Brian Williams.

Everything after that was a blur. Delabar signed a minor league contract and shot through the farm system and posted a 0.69 ERA in 10 Triple-A appearances. That was good enough for the Mariners, who recently promoted him as a member of their expanded 40-man roster.

Delabar joined the “Kevin Calabro Show” on Wednesday to talk about his amazing recovery.

“It’s just crazy,” Delabar said. “All the stuff that I’ve been through this year, I guess the past year and a half, things have been just great.”

Delabar talked about his friend’s training program and how it made him a better pitcher.

“My whole thinking of it was, I wanted to learn this program because I was doing baseball instruction and I said, ‘I want to learn how this program works so whenever I teach it to kids I know what they’re going through’ … So I started going through the program and [my] army strength got up, velocity got up and I was like, ‘hey, this might work out for me.'”

Still, Delabar wasn’t about to give up his teaching career to chase a pipe dream, and wanted to make sure that he’d have a real shot at baseball before he gave it a try.

“I told the owner of the indoor facility that I work at that I’m not even going to consider it unless I’m throwing 100 [mph],” Delabar said. “And we got to where the velocity was 94, 96, 97 and he goes, ‘I think we need to give the scout a call.'”

Wyman & Bob

Wyman and Bob

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Do the Seattle Seahawks need to trade back in the NFL Draft this year?

Do the Seattle Seahawks need to trade back in the NFL Draft this year? With no 2nd round pick, does it make sense for them to move out of the 1st round? Could any QB entice them to stay in the 1st round? Dave Wyman and Bob Stelton discuss that and what it might mean […]

13 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Bryce Miller Logan Gilbert Bryan Woo...

Brandon Gustafson

Dontrelle Willis: Mariners’ rotation provides ‘quality every single day’

Dontrelle Willis, a former MLB pitcher and current analyst for FOX Sports, gives his Seattle Mariners insight ahead of opening day.

14 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Can this Seattle Mariners team make a playoff push this season? Bob’s Baseball Breakdown

Bob Stelton of Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob breaks down the state of the Seattle Mariners. With Spring Training in the rear view mirror, what did he see this offseason and spring? This week, Bob answers: – What stood out in Spring Training? – Which M’s surprised him in Spring Training? – Which player has […]

14 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Has the NFL gone too far with this most recent round of proposals?

Has the NFL gone too far with this most recent round of proposals? Are rule changes like the kickoff and scheduling changes to Christmas a sign of too much change? Dave Wyman and Bob Stelton discuss that and just what it might mean for the future of the NFL. Is too much change impacting the […]

1 day ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Would DK Metcalf’s tackle be illegal under the new NFL hip drop rules?

Would the famous DK Metcalf’s tackle be illegal under the new NFL hip drop rules? What will the NFL look like in a few years if they keep changes rules like this? Dave Wyman and Bob Stelton discuss that and what it might mean for the game of football in the future. Is this rule […]

3 days ago

Seattle Seahawks Sam Howell...

Brandon Gustafson

Schneider on if Sam Howell impacts Seahawks in the NFL Draft

Does trading for Sam Howell preclude the Seattle Seahawks from taking a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft? Here's what John Schneider said.

6 days ago

Mariners’ Steve Delabar talks about path to big leagues