At about 10:05 a.m. this morning, Darrell Rasner will be stepping onto arguably the most hollowed ground in all of sports: the pitcher's mound at Yankee Stadium.
Rasner, a 1999 Carson High graduate, has been called up to be be the starting pitcher today when the New York Yankees face the Minnesota Twins.
"The rumors are true. I was pretty excited," said Rasner about when he was told on Friday that he would start today's game. "It's really a great chance for me. Any kind of ball with the Yankees is an honor for me.
"I'm just very excited to have the opportunity. It's just pretty cool. It's a humbling experience."
Rasner made his last rehab start a week ago with the Yankees Triple A affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, and pitched six strong innings. In 10 starts with Columbus this year, Rasner went 4-0 with a 2.76 earned run average, striking out 47 and walking just 11 in 58.2 innings.
"Everything went well," said Rasner about his last start in Columbus. "I just strikes strikes. I feel good. I feel strong.
"I'm just going to pitch my game tomorrow and let those guys play defense behind me. That defense I think is the best defense in the Major Leagues."
Rasner admitted it's a little overwhelming to know that he'll likely have players like Derek Jeter at shortstop and Alex Rodriguez at third behind him. "It will be pretty cool," he said. "I'm excited about it."
But Rasner said he'll be able to take everything in stride. If he gets too caught up in the situation, Rasner said, "That's when you get in trouble.
"It's still the same game. I try not to overemphasize things, make a big deal about stuff.
"The mound and is still 60 feet, six inches to home plate. The bases are still 90 feet."
The Yankees originally planned to use a committe of relievers today, but instead opted for Rasner to try to save the bullpen. While it's assumed that the Yankees would be thrilled to receive five or six innings from Rasner, he's not putting pressure on himself to pitch as long as possible.
"I'm not concerned about that," he said. "One pitch at a time. I'm not going to get ahead of myself. That's when you get in trouble.
"That's going to be my mindset going in, just throw good pitches. The results are out of my control."
Rasner was brought up earlier in the year by the Yankees and made one appearance against the Detroit Tigers. With the bases loaded and one out, Rasner's first pitch was a fastball and he was greeted by a two-run single by Magglio Ordonez.
"To be honest with you it was a decent pitch," Rasner said. "I was trying to get a double play. Hew was able to elevate a little bit."
Rasner went on to retire the next five batters he faced, striking out one, and left with a 6-5 lead.
But on the next night, Rasner felt pain in his right shoulder warming up in the bullpen and was placed on the disabled list. "I still don't know what the final diagnosis was," Rasner said.
Rasner eventually made a series of rehab starts with the Yankees rookie league team, then with Class A Tampa before Columbus. "It took a little longer than I would have liked," said Rasner about the rehab.
A solid effort may earn Rasner another start, but not surprisingly the right-handed pitcher isn't looking ahead.
"To be honest with you I'm not worried about that," he said. "My job is just to pitch tomorrow. From there, I don't know what's going to happen."