Relief pitcher Luke Hochevar quietly chatted in the Royals clubhouse Wednesday, blissfully unaware that his clothes were drenched in a mixture of champagne and beer.
The corks had been pulled about 10 minutes earlier as the team celebrated clinching the American League Division Series over Houston.
Drips of alcohol dripped from Hochevar’s beard onto the sheets of plastic lining the clubhouse floor as he answered questions about being part of another playoff party.
This, however, was much different than last year’s playoff run for him. Hochevar was in the dugout and clubhouse, but he never played in a game as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery in March 2014.