FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Slatens’ travel plans took a dramatic turn Sunday morning.
That was thanks to a quick meeting between Justin Slaten and Red Sox manager Alex Cora, along with an immediate phone call to the relief pitcher’s parents.
“(Cora) brought me in and said, ‘Is your family going to be there in Dallas?’ I told them they were. He then asked if they were staying and I told them they probably would be staying for the day and drive back to home to East Texas. He told them they might want to change their plans and go to Seattle because I was going to be with team,” Slaten told WEEI.com. “It was an awesome moment.”
While the idea of Slaten making the Opening Day roster has been an accepted notion for most of March, there was never any certainties for the 26-year-old. He was still a pitcher who had pitched in five games at the Triple-A level and was in major league camp in large part to his status as a Rule 5 draftee. (If the righty wasn’t put on the major league roster to start the season his rights would go back to Texas, from where the Mets picked Slaten before dealing him to the Red Sox.)
“Honestly, when I got called into his office I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I have tried to take this whole spring one day a time and just let things happen the way they would, try not to think about it too much. To say it was expected or unexpected, I honestly couldn’t tell you. It was a matter of coming in here, doing the best I could every day and letting the chips fall where they could.
“It was definitely a surreal moment. Getting to call my parents and tell them was awesome. It’s something you think about from the day you were drafted, how that conversation was going to go and when you’re going to hear it. It was just a crazy moment for me. In spring training to hear that I was going to be with the team on Opening Day, it was the best news.”
Slaten pitched in 5 1/3 innings over five games throughout the Grapefruit League, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out six and walking one. He impressed the Sox’ coaching staff by possessing a fastball that lived in the upper 90’s.
In terms of how the rest of the bullpen might look, it appears as though Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin - both of whom are slated to pitch Tuesday night in Texas - will be ready for Opening Day. Brennan Bernardino and Joely Rodriguez seem locked in as the lefties, with Josh Winckowski and Chase Anderson serving as two more righties. Isaiah Campbell and Greg Weissert appear to be vying for one of the final spots.
Where Slaten fits in among that group remains to be seen, which is find with him. He will be in Seattle come Thursday night, as will his parents.
“They will be heading there,” he said of his parents’ trip to T-Mobile Park. Coming in here with the situation I knew I had to come in and pitch well. There is a lot of talented guys in that locker room, guys who have had really good springs. Honestly, for me to come in here and pitch the way I know I can pitch, it was a huge relief because all I wanted to do was prove these guys right for taking a chance on me. I felt like I did that and that’s really all I can do.”