Roseville native makes it big in Texas
From former local prep pitcher to The Show, Brian Sikorski is living the dream
By John Horn
He’s in.
It might have taken a little longer than he originally planned, but Roseville native Brian Sikorski is now in the big league, the real big league.
Sikorski, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher, is currently a member of the starting rotation for the Texas Rangers this season. And he made it in the most fundamental way possible, accomplishing each step of the way pretty much by the book.
After toiling in the minor leagues for five years, Sikorski finally got his break last month. While pitching for the AAA Oklahoma Red Hawks of the Rangers’ farm system, he caught word Aug. 15 that his next start on the mound would be his first professional start for a Major League baseball team.
While in Las Vegas the night before throwing for the Red Hawks, Sikorski said he got the news that he was headed to the big league in a, well, most direct fashion.
“I was in the game that night and the pitching coach came in and asked me how I felt,” he said. “I told him I felt fine. He said ‘well that’s good, because you’ve got the ESPN Game of the Week against the Yankees tomorrow night. Good luck.’”
The next night, Sikorski tore into the defending World Champions at The Ballpark in Arlington. In his debut, he went seven innings, giving up only four hits, striking out five and did not allow any earned runs or homers.
“To tell you the truth I wasn’t all that nervous,” he said. “It was my first major league start and I did have some butterflies, but the first pitch I threw, the guy popped up to left. It was a huge relief. After that, I approached it just like it was any other game.”
The Yankees, however, would get redemption. His next start, in famed Yankee Stadium, resulted in a 3-2 loss Aug. 21 when he gave up three earned runs in four innings. His following starts would not have storybook results either, including:
- A 9-3 loss at home to Toronto. He gave up 10 hits and four earned runs in five innings.
- A 14-7 win against Cleveland. He gave up four earned runs in five innings, but struck out four in the no-decision.
- A 13-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sept.6. In four innings, he allowed five earned runs, striking out five and giving up two homers in another no-decision. The Rangers had a three-game series against the Tigers at Comerica Park Labor Day weekend, but Sikorski did not pitch that weekend. At press time Sept. 11, he was 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA, 22 strikeouts, 16 walks and 16 earned runs in 26.1 innings pitched.
He’s new to these ranks and, like everything else he’s previously encountered, Sikorski is absorbing and remaining focused.
“This is a learning experience for me,” he said. “Hopefully this is not my only time in the big leagues. I really haven’t thrown all that badly. I’ve made two mistakes and it cost me five runs. I’m trying to learn from those mistakes.”
He didn’t seem to make many mistakes when he was a standout athlete at Roseville High School, where he was named MVP his junior and senior years.
Former Roseville baseball coach Bob DeStefano said he and his coaching staff realized Sikorski’s talent on the mound when he was only a sophomore. Sikorski was throwing against Utica High when the notion hit DeStefano.
“This is the first kid who looked like he was barely throwing the ball, but it was exploding,” DeStefano said. “I had coached for 35 years. My assistant coach and I just looked at each other and said ‘wow.’ We just sat there and he kept throwing BBs.”
DeStefano said it was Sikorski’s hard work and determination that have placed him in the major leagues. He said the pitcher took it upon himself to improve his game, keep getting better and stay driven.
“I didn’t teach him how to throw 92 mph,” DeStefano said. “This is Brian. He had to work to become where he is at now. It is his hard work and desire, or else he wouldn’t be where he is now.”
Sikorski enrolled at Western Michigan University and pitched for three years before being drafted by Houston in 1995.
Extracting as much as possible from every opportunity seems to be his strong suit. College life and playing baseball there is fun, but Sikorski said he took advantage of the situation and is glad he did.
Growing up in Roseville and taking a minor league mound in New Orleans are two different worlds. For Sikorski though, it’s no big deal.
“Once I was signed and sent to Auburn, New York, that was really nothing, as far as living,” he said. “College helped prepare me. Going to college kind of helps you mature a little bit.”
Now he is in the pros, on a team with some of the game’s finest players and future Hall of Famers. He is on the same roster as Ivan Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro and ace closer John Wetteland.
“This is a dream come true,” he said. “For me, every day I can run out on that field or be in batting practice, I am having fun. It is an indescribable feeling. Sometimes you find yourself being a little kid again. You grew up watching them on television, now you realize they’re your teammates.”
His personal life is starting to mirror his professional life. He has an 8-month old son, Easton, and has been married to his wife, Samantha, for two years. And where did they meet? They played Little League together when he was 9. Later they would be high school sweethearts and ultimately married.
Dream girl, dream job and a bouncing baby boy. Life is good for Sikorski right now, and if he sticks to what brought him here so far, he’ll probably end up in pretty good shape.
Published originally by C & G Newspapers
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