HOUSTON (WWJ) - When Plymouth native Grant Hartwig took to the mound at Houston's Minute Maid Park on Monday against the reigning World Series Champions, he didn't let the monumental moment -- or the Mets logo on his cap -- overtake the job he needed to do.
"We're playing the same game out there that I've been doing my whole life," the 25-year-old said to WWJ's Luke Sloan.
Only, it was anything but a regular old ball game that Hartwig grew up with in Metro Detroit.
The rookie pitcher was making his major league baseball debut for the New York Mets and had just relieved pitching ace and former Detroit Tiger Max Scherzer from a stellar performance.
And he didn't let his teammates, which also included two-time American League Cy Young Award winner and two-time world champion Justin Verlander, down.
In the ninth inning, Hartwig allowed a leadoff single to Mauricio Dubon, but induced a double-play ball from Cesar Salazar.
The 25-year-old then walked Grae Kessinger before he got Yainer Diaz to ground into a fielder's choice.
After 16 pitches, his job was done. The Mets clinched a 11-1 win over the Astros and Hartwig could finally celebrate.
In the days leading up to Monday night's game, the Plymouth native said he couldn't immediately process how he wound up a Big Leaguer.
"Getting that call in Syracuse and flying down to Houston, the whole experience has just been surreal," he said.
Feb 23, 2023; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Grant Hartwig poses for a picture during the New York Mets media photo day at Clover FieldReinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
From there, his focus has remained fixed on winning.
"You wanna go out there and compete against the best, but you try to not let any moment get too big and, you know, just try to simplify things and just take care of business," he explained to Sloan. "Take it one step at a time, one pitch at a time and just really be in the present moment and not let those moments get too big."
The righty reliever took an usual route to the major leagues, turning down medical school for baseball. Hartwig is graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi where he lettered in baseball, football and basketball and was named to All-Catholic League, All-District and All-Region teams.
He went on to play for the Miami University of Ohio, receiving a degree in microbiology and premedical studies. In his senior season, Hartwig appeared in 14 games, making 11 starts as pitcher during senior season, had 5-5 record and 3.44 ERA and finished with 82 strikeouts in 73.1 innings pitched.
He also worked as a medical assistant in a Detroit-area cardiovascular clinic.
When Hartwig went undrafted in 2021, he hung up his cleats and pursued his medical career, signing up to take the MCAT.
But baseball wasn't done with him yet.
The 25-year-old said he was in the middle of a practice exam when he got a call from a random number.
"I muted it," he admitted to David Laurila of FanGraphs at the time.
It was the New York Mets and they offered him a contract as an undrafted free agent.
Hartwig garnered attention in 2023 while playing for Triple-A Syracuse with a 4.21 ERA and 4.34 FIP with 35 strikeouts and 15 walks in 25.2 innings of work.
He said getting called up to pitch with the Mets on Monday and join the ranks of baseball stars like Verlander and Scherzer was a cumulation of hard work and support over the years.
"I've been doing baseball my whole life," Hartwig said, "and its been surreal just to have to be able to walk out on that field and see all the hard work pay off and be able to take a moment after that first outing and just, you know, I really appreciate all the people that have gotten me to this point and helped me along the way."
"It just makes it all worth it for sure," Hartwig added.
