After four-plus seasons in the minors, 2017 seventh-round pick Jackson Tetreault finally made his MLB debit for the Nationals earlier this month – and it didn’t go well, as he was tagged for seven earned runs over four innings in a loss to Atlanta.
A little bit of nerves in that first one, perhaps?
“I don’t even know what was going through my mind; just an incredible experience, because not a lot of people get to be on this stage, and the nerves were there for sure,” Tetreault told Grant & Danny on Monday night. “When you’re looking across and the first guy you’re facing is Ronald Acuna, intimidating could be a word you use, but there’s no room for that. I couldn’t feel my body, I just had to try to throw the ball across the plate.”
Tetreault had come up because the Nats’ pitching staff was decimated, so he unfortunately had to wear it that day, but he knew what he was getting into.
“I was aware going in that the bullpen was thin, and as a starter, you want to try and save those guys as much as you can,” Tetreault said. “I would’ve like to go longer, but that’s a tough lineup – but I’m not going to shy away from that, because if you want to have success in this league, you have to handle lineups like that. The circumstances were crazy, but they were what they were; that’s the way it goes, you just have to compete.”
In his two starts since then, however, the 26-year-old righty has two quality starts under his belt; he allowed three unearned runs over seven innings in a win over Philly for his first MLB win, and on Sunday, he allowed one run over six innings in a win over Texas.
“I think a big thing for me has been being able to watch the other guys and see what they do during the week with their routines, and talk to trainers and strength coaches to develop my own,” Tetreault said. “It’s a comfort thing; if you believe in your routine and preparation, you’re going to be comfortable and confident – and going in there with confidence, you have a good chance at success. The debut was a little rough, but it is what it is. This is a hard game and you’re gonna have those sometimes. You learn from it and move past it.”
Perhaps part of that success is the velocity Tetreault has been able to add over the years, and even more as he’s gotten into routine in the Majors.
“Over the past few years, me velocity has climbed a little bit…I can’t say for sure what I credit it to, maybe just maturing,” Tetreault said. “I made some mechanical changes a couple years ago – I was a big drop-and-drive guy, but now my body moves more efficiently, and when you find that, that’s when you’re going to get the most out of your stuff. And I’m still learning things, so I’m hoping to continue to improve as I mature and grow in this league.”
