CINCINNATI -- Right-hander Nick Mears was getting ready to pitch in an intrasquad game in the Pirates' alternate training site in Altoona, Pa. on Friday, Aug. 7 when he passed pitching coach Joel Hanrahan. Hanrahan was working with the other squad's starter for the day, but he stopped Mears for a second.
"Hey, go get 'em," he said. "I'm pulling for you."
That struck Mears as an odd thing to say. The word around the clubhouse was that general manager Ben Cherington was in Altoona that day. Mears is rated by Baseball America as the organization's best reliever prospect, but he had only reached class AA, and even then for only five innings, in 2019.
The outing went well. Mears struck out the side and was pulled. He went back home and fell asleep.
At 12:45 a.m., he was awoken by his roommate Braeden Ogle, who was standing over him. Hanrahan was on FaceTime.
"Mears," Hanrahan was saying, "Get your s--- together. You're going to the show."
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