Family faces gave confidence to Cleveland Indians reliever Cam Hill to make the opening list.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – When Cam Hill entered the headquarters of the Cleveland Indians club as an unlisted guest for spring training in 2018, the lockers were primarily inhabited by veteran players and All-Stars who had won titles together. of consecutive division. two previous seasons

It might have been intimidating for Hill, a 2014 17th-round draft pick from Redlands Community College in El Reno, OK, but he conducted himself professionally and took his eventual assignment to the minor league camp as the impetus to re-enter that Clubhouse as fast as possible.

However, the way back included a detour for reconstructive elbow surgery in July 2018, and before Wednesday’s news that Hill had made his way onto the Indians’ opening list, the 26-year-old right-hander did not I was sure if I would ever listen to the manager. Terry Francona welcomes you on board.

“It didn’t necessarily hit me at first, but it was a big sigh of relief,” Hill said. “It has been a long journey to this point and I am excited to start a new chapter.”

Hill was on the fast track to the big leagues before his injury. He had pitched at three levels in the Indians’ farming system in 2016, posting a 2.34 ERA in 42 relief starts, and was selected for the Arizona Fall League after the season. In 2017, he spent most of the year at Double-A Akron, where he was named an Eastern League midseason All-Star with a 2.66 ERA in 25 starts.

But he was limited to 16 appearances in 2018 in Triple-A before a strain on his forearm led to Tommy John’s surgery in July. Hill put the surgery in perspective, noting that many pitchers have undergone reconstructive surgery before him and have followed careers in the major leagues. His focus was to stay focused on his own path.

“The surgery was just a minor setback,” Hill said. “The goal was not to be recruited and just to play professional baseball. The goal was to be a great player and maintain a career. I have my foot on the door right now and I just have to take it one day at a time and see how this unfolds. ”

Hill said the injury also allowed him to develop some mental maturity.

“My physical abilities are not much better than a couple of years ago, but I would say that I have grown between the ears the past few years,” he said. “Being in rehab puts things in perspective.”

In February, before the coronavirus pandemic put baseball aside for four months, Hill walked into that same training facility in Goodyear, Arizona, and was greeted by a series of slightly more familiar faces. Boys like Mike Clevinger, Zach Plesac, Shane Bieber and Greg Allen were all Hill’s teammates on their journey through the club’s minor league system.

Her presence made Hill feel comfortable, and that comfort translated into confidence. Now all he had to do was make the opening day list so he could play alongside them again.

“I’m glad they’re on my side,” said Hill. “By being around them and thinking about them, you can bounce them back, take advantage of their experiences and try to make them yours, choose their brains and try to learn.”

Francona said that as players move through the ranks of the Indians’ minor league system, it’s good when they can play alongside familiar faces at each stop.

“As long as we make them win it and they knock on the door, I think it’s a really good thing,” he said.

Hill says he is not shy about trying to uncover secrets from his more experienced teammates. Clevinger, Bieber and Plesac in particular are pitchers he has relied on for advice. He also took pity on fellow rookie James Karinchak, who will spend a lot of time with him in the bullpen for the next two months as the pair try to carve out a path in the big leagues.

“We feed on each other a little bit,” Hill said of Karinchak. “It is like a 24/7 friendly competition between him and me.”

Hill says he also rejects the thoughts of outfielder Tyler Naquin, who has also gone through his own bouts with the injury rehabilitation process.

“He’s been through a lot of ups and downs in this league,” Hill said. “These guys are a great group of guys and I am grateful and excited to be a part of it.”

Francona was a rookie in Montreal in 1981 and said he had never understood the idea of ​​a clubhouse full of veterans causing difficulties for young players. He has seen clubs that do not accept youth until they have a year under their belt.

“I don’t want that to be the case here,” said Francona. “Our boys do a very good job of allowing them to acclimatize, whether they are coming in for an exchange or if they are young, and not distant or difficult.”

Francona’s message to young players is that once veterans understand what they can do to help the team win, the faster they will be accepted.

“And the more they accept you, the more you can be yourself,” added Francona.

Hill beat a more experienced reliever at Hunter Wood to earn his place in the Indians’ bullpen. He pitched five exhibition games before closing camp. He hit a hitter, walked a hitter and struck out two, but he only allowed one run in five innings of work. He made one more appearance at summer training camp against Pittsburgh before learning he had appeared on the roster the first day.

The first call Wednesday after Hill received the news from Francona was to her parents, Keith and Shelley in Oklahoma. Mom screamed in the background, while Dad tried to keep his composure.

“I know deep down, I was probably screaming, just like my mother,” Hill said.

With his impending major league debut, Hill said he would love for his family to see him pitch in person, but he understands that circumstances won’t allow it to happen.

“Would it be wonderful if I had my family, friends and supporters and Indians fans in the stands? Absolutely, ”said Hill. “But at the end of the day, you are not promised anything in this game. I am not greedy. I’m happy to be a part of that. “

New Indian face masks for sale: This is where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed facial liners for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a 3-pack ($ 24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charities.

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