Desperate times call for desperate measures and with two starters on the disabled list and mixed results from their usual spot-starters, the Nationals called on prospect Joe Ross from Double-A Harrisburg to fill in on Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs.
It was an unexpected move that caught Ross himself by surprise. He was called in to Harrisburg manager Brian Daubach’s office after a Senators game several days prior and at first thought he was in trouble. Daubach and Harrisburg pitching coach Chris Michalak initially kept straight faces, knowing Ross would have no reason to suspect such a life-changing moment was awaiting him.