Edmonton Baseball: Erik Sabrowski makes MLB debut with Cleveland Guardians

On Wednesday night in Kansas City, Erik Sabrowski’s dreams came true.

The Edmonton-born baseball pitcher made his first major league appearance, appearing as a relief pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians in one and a half innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two batters in a 4-1 victory for the host Royals.

Sabrowski ended the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium with a strikeout of the first batter, Royals pinch hitter Yuli Gurriel, before pitching the entire eighth inning.

“It was an incredible feeling,” Sabrowkski said after the game in a somewhat emotional interview with Bally Sports Cleveland.

“I kept telling myself, 'Stay ready, stay ready, my time will come,' and luckily it happened tonight.”

The Guardians called up Sabrowski, who pitched for the Edmonton Prospects in 2017, to the major leagues from their Triple-A affiliate team in Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 28.

His stepfather told media in Edmonton on Thursday that it was exciting and a relief to see Sabrowski on a major league mound while he and others watched the game.

“Lots of clenched fists, lots of high fives, lots of hugs, followed by a few tears, tears of joy, of course,” said John Fiacco.

Had Tommy John surgery twice

The 26-year-old, who joined the Guardians organization three years after being selected by the San Diego Padres in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, has undergone Tommy John surgery twice, most recently in 2021 when he began playing professional baseball.

The procedure is performed to repair a torn ligament on the inside of the elbow and thus stabilize the elbow joint. It is named after the major league pitcher who first underwent the procedure 50 years ago.

John was a major league pitcher for 12 years when he underwent the surgery and returned to action nearly two years later. He played 14 more seasons and worked as a broadcaster and coach after his retirement, including with the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers in the early 2000s.

Sabrowski started the 2024 professional baseball season in Double-A Akron and, after posting a 0.77 earned run average (ERA) and striking out 54.2 percent of the batters he faced in 11.2 innings over nine games, was promoted to Triple-A, where he posted a 4.38 ERA and struck out 31 percent of the batters he faced in 37 innings over 27 games.

Graduate of St. FX Academy

Sabrowski grew up in the Edmonton area and played baseball, including at St. Thomas More and St. Francis Xavier Academies in the Edmonton Catholic School Division, where Fiacco serves as superintendent of educational planning.

Sabrowski graduated from St. FX High School in 2015.

Brad Wolansky, director of the St. FX Baseball Academy, said Sabrowski's rise to the top level is an inspiration to young local baseball players.

“This is a big deal for someone who has gone through the program,” Wolansky said. “Everyone is excited and it's great to see the kids understand what's going on.”

According to the Baseball Almanac, Sobrowski is the fifth player from Edmonton – out of 12 Albertans and 265 Canadians – to play in the major leagues. This includes 32-year-old pitcher Rob Zastryzny of the Milwaukee Brewers, who made it to the big leagues with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.

The others:

• Pitcher Mike Johnson appeared in 81 games in five MLB seasons from 1997 to 2001, 32 of them as a starter, four of them with the Montreal Expos;
• Dave Shipanoff appeared as a relief pitcher in 26 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1985;
• and Vince Barton trotted into right field in 95 games in two seasons with the Cubs in 1931 and 1932.

Wolansky said he doesn't have exact numbers on hand, but each year more and more Canadian baseball players are entering professional baseball.

“There are a lot more Canadians coming into the major leagues and a lot more Albertans are being drafted every year,” he said. “In some places you can see the increase in the higher leagues as well.”

With files from Galen McDougall of CTV News Edmonton