Durbin Feltman looked up from watching an episode of HBO's "Chernobyl" and took a second to contemplate his lot in life.
"Yup, one year ago yesterday."
One day at a time is the mantra, but when you've experienced as much Feltman has since being taken in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Red Sox some reflection is warranted.
"It’s been a whirlwind," he added. "You can’t expect this. It’s totally different from what I thought it was going to be."
From almost the minute the relief pitcher was taken out of TCU the conversations started. The 2018 Red Sox could sure use some sort of bullpen savior and considering what Feltman brought to the table many believed he could fit the bill. And it didn't stop after that first professional season.
The Grapefruit League schedule was immediately made more interesting when Feltman was dropped into big league games, with Red Sox followers who had just heard and read the stories of this closer finally getting a chance to put a face to their proclamations. No Craig Kimbrel? No worries. Feltman was on the horizon.
All of it ... unrealistic ... unfair.
"A little bit," Feltman told WEEI.com when asked if such narratives were tough to ignore. "Of course I wanted to be in the big leagues last year. Then coming into this year I wanted to throw really well because I want to get up by June or get there as fast as I can. If I don’t throw well it’s crushing because it’s going to delay me a little bit. Just kind of taking a step back and just enjoy it while I’m here. I know it’s different for everyone."
The names of those collegiate pitchers who made the quick jump to the big leagues not too soon after being drafted are notable, if not plentiful. Chris Sale worked out well. Brandon Finnegan? He hasn't quite found his major league stride after being summoned to the big leagues by Kansas City the same year he was pitching for TCU. And then there is Carson Fulmer. That's the pitcher the White Sox took one spot after Andrew Benintendi in the 2015 draft.
One year after being taken with that No. 8 overall pick Fulmer found himself in the big leagues. Flash forward to this season and the former Vanderbilt star finds himself back in Triple-A, having compiled a major league resume that includes 32 appearances with a 6.72 ERA and almost as many walks (55) as strikeouts (69).
The idea is to be put in a position where once you find your ticket to the big leagues, it's of the one-way variety.
"There are just too many wrinkles for a young guy to go from college to the big leagues," said Feltman's current pitching coach at Double-A Portland, Paul Abbott. "But he's got everything you want."
It's why the conversation was hatched to begin with. This was a pure reliever, with two lock-down pitches. And when Feltman dominated his first full season of pro ball, striking out 36 while walking just five in 23 1/3 innings with Single-A Lowell, Greenville and Salem the idea of advancement only became more and more intriguing.
But along came the prerequisite adversity.
After a decent start with the Sea Dogs Feltman ran into three horrific outings to begin May. Three innings. Eight runs. Nine walks.
"I had that three-game stretch where I wasn’t throwing the ball close to the zone. I threw like eight straight balls," he remembered. "It was kind of mechanical. Flying off. Trying to throw it too hard and stuff like that. I settled back down, controlled my effort and felt like I got back into a little bit."
But it was more than mechanical. It was the tipping point of a lot of things. A change in side-session preparation. The alteration of a breaking ball that now resembles more of a hard curveball instead of his slider. And, maybe most important, the realization that time was still on his side.
"I had to start enjoying it, which was what I did last year," Feltman admitted. "That kind of settled me back down and got me going again."
It was a message passed on by coaches and teammates, such as former big leaguer and current Sea Dog Brian Ellington whose message was clear and concise: "Slow your roll. Enjoy it while you’re here. Don’t try and push it. Don’t put pressure on yourself."
Since the early May skid Feltman has been better, giving up two earned runs over 10 1/3 innings, striking out at least one batter in each of the eight appearances while walking three.
A year later the conversation has changed, but the promise and potential haven't. That is what the Red Sox and their relief-pitching prospect can hang their hats on.
"It will happen," Feltman said.