Mark Hamburger all smiles after MLB debut
Right-handed relief pitcher Mark Hamburger was wearing a big grin after making his major league debut.
Hamburger worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, getting two groundouts sandwiched around a soft fly to right field. He threw 11 of his 15 pitches for strikes.
The 24-year-old from St. Paul, Minn., was the fifth Rangers reliever of the night and the fourth to not allow a run.
“Every time the phone rang in the bullpen, I thought they might call my name, but it was ‘not this time.’ When the call came before the ninth it was ‘all right, we’re about to do this.’ ’’
Hamburger, called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, said he didn’t want to change his mindset from what has been working for him.
“I wanted to focus on the game I was playing and have fun,’’ he said.
He said he was a little in awe by it all.
“Michael Young throwing me the ball after an out, I mean, wow,’’ Hamburger said.
Several of the Rangers players watched Hamburger's inning from the top step of the dugout.
Upon entering the dugout after his inning of work, manager Ron Washington greeted him with a high-five.
“When it comes from the manager, that’s a great feeling,’’ Hamburger said.
You can read about Hamburger's journey to he majors here.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast Jim Bowden joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss Ron Washington's decision to send Yu Darvish to the mound for the eighth inning Thursday night and how he would handle a situation like that if he were still a GM.
Play Podcast Randy Galloway, Matt Mosley and Glenn "Stretch" Smith discuss the latest Rangers news, including the Yu Darvish-Justin Verlander matchup.
Play Podcast Nelson Cruz joins Galloway & Company to discuss the Rangers' series in Oakland, his ups and downs at the plate and if the PED talks before the season were a distraction.
Play Podcast Rangers manager Ron Washington joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett live from Oakland for his weekly visit.
Play Podcast Nolan Ryan joins Galloway & Company to discuss his role with the Rangers. Ryan says that he has not been in contact with the Astros about a possible opening and he doesn't think that he would be interested anyway.
Play Podcast Jim Bowden joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett for his weekly visit and wastes no time sounding off on MLB umpire Angel Hernandez.
Play Podcast Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland joins GAC from Milwaukee to discuss what it was like facing former teammate Scott Feldman, Texas' upcoming series and more.
Play Podcast Ron Washington joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett live from Milwaukee for his weekly visit and discusses Nick Tepesch, the Rangers' rotation, interleague play and more.
TEAM LEADERS
| WINS LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Yu Darvish
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| BA | I. Kinsler | .302 | ||||||||||
| HR | N. Cruz | 11 | ||||||||||
| RBI | N. Cruz | 33 | ||||||||||
| R | E. Andrus | 27 | ||||||||||
| OPS | M. Moreland | .921 | ||||||||||
| ERA | D. Holland | 2.93 | ||||||||||
| SO | Y. Darvish | 86 | ||||||||||






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