One of the more welcome additions to professional sporting events the past several years has been the teams desire to honor more military personnel, both active and retired.
Bringing them into the spotlight, often times before games begin, the moment gives 10K, 20K, sometimes 80K people the chance to show their support for the men and women who are/were protecting our freedom.
Not often, though, are the ones being honored actually playing the game.
Welcome to your feel good story of the year, so far.
The Cardinals have called up relief pitcher Mitch Harris from AAA Memphis and he will join the team tonight in Washington DC.
Here’s the story we did on Harris before spring training started.
Lt. Harris’ MLB debut at Nationals Park in DC, will be a 51 minute drive from the Naval Academy located in Annapolis. From a B/R article by Rob Rains on FEB 5th:
If Harris does make it to the major leagues, he would become only the second player ever who graduated from the Naval Academy to reach that level. The other was Nemo Gaines, who pitched in four games for the Washington Senators over a three-week span in 1921, 94 years ago.
I’m confident that Harris, if inserted in the game, will get a warm ovation from the Nationals fans in attendance. His perseverance against some steep odds is admirable and his dedication to get to this moment in time unquestioned.
Congratulations to Lt. Harris, from all of us in Cardinal Nation. After all, he’s the only player in MLB that is enlisted in the active military reserves.
Photo: Fox Sports
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