As Ben McDonald watched his nephew make his major league debut for his former team, he couldn’t help but get nervous for him.
“I got sweaty palms right now,” the Orioles broadcaster said on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network as Mac Sceroler faced the New York Yankees.
Sceroler likely shared that perspiration problem, but he didn’t show it on the mound, twirling 2 u2154 hitless innings in his first professional appearance above High-A. It began in an even more nerve-wracking situation: facing Yankees slugger Aaron Judge with the bases loaded.
Sceroler, one of Baltimore’s two Rule 5 picks, threw Judge seven straight fastballs, the last of which came with a full count to freeze Judge for a strike.