Ruden Sports News

The Rays’ Curt Casali swings at a pitch during a spring training game against the Pirates. (Photo: Skip Milos/Tampa Bay Rays)

When the moment finally arrived, and Curt Casali came up to bat as a major league player for the first time, there was a sense of ease, a feeling of accomplishment rather than fear.

“I don’t want to sound conceited, but the only time I was nervous was when I went out to warm up the pitcher,” said Casali, the New Canaan High School graduate who made his major league debut as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night against the Twins. “As soon as I got into the batter’s box, I felt comfortable.”

Those emotions were soon roused, as Casali hit a line drive into right-center for a base hit, and again when he scored his first run.

“I think I mumbled to myself, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ ” Casali said. “I saw the third-base coach throw the ball into the dugout and I remembered all the time seeing that on TV whenever someone got their first hit. It’s pretty cool to see it happen to you.”

As Casali spoke during a phone interview from St. Louis on Monday afternoon, during an off day before a two-game series with the Cardinals, it was obvious that his whirlwind first weekend with the Rays had not been completely absorbed.

The pieces of the puzzle that were Casali’s first memories had not been totally processed.

New Canaan graduate Curt Casali made his major league debut this past weekend with the Rays, getting a hit in his first at bat. (Photo: Skip Milos/Tampa Bay Rays)

“It’s still a little crazy for me,” Casali admitted. “It’s still unbelievable that I made it. A lot of hard work that people don’t realize went into it.”

That work started in the youth leagues in New Canaan, until he found out on Thursday that he was getting called up from the Triple-A Durham Bulls to the Rays to replace injured catcher Ryan Hanigan, who went on the disabled list.

Casali was on the field with the other Durham players getting ready to stretch prior to a game in Georgia against Gwinnett. The team was called together by manager Charlie Montoyo, whom Casali had recently praised in an interview for a newspaper article.

“He called me in front of the team and started the conversation by saying “Thank you, Curt, for saying the nice things you did, and now I am going to return the favor,’ ” Casali said. “I think my jaw dropped. I was in shock and awe and everyone jumped on top of me. It was a great feeling. It was pretty cool.

“Then I went back out to start stretching again and everyone wanted to know what I was doing. There are no words to describe what I was feeling.”

Casali flew out to Minnesota on Friday morning. He was joined there by his parents, two brothers and his girlfriend.

Casali soon learned he would be in the starting lineup that night.

Catcher Curt Casali started in two of his first three games with the Rays. (Photo: Skip Milos/Tampa Bay Rays)

“I’ve known Joe Maddon is notorious for putting people right into the fire,” Casali said, referring to the Rays’ manager. “I was prepared to play, but I don’t think you are prepared for being in a big league lineup. I appreciate him getting me in right away. I think if I waited another day I would have been nervous.”

Casali, playing both in Double-A Montgomery and Gwinnett, was batting .261 in 68 games when he was called up, with four home runs and 28 RBIs. One of the subtle numbers that stood out: 45 walks, an indicator for his good eye at the plate.

After playing at Vanderbilt — Casali said he was eased over the weekend by a teammate and another alumnus of the school, pitcher David Price — Casali was drafted in 2011 in the 10th round by the Tigers, then dealt a year ago March to the Rays.

Casali for now will share time with Rays veteran backup catcher Jose Molina, who is currently batting .196.

Casali got his second start on Sunday. And though he has gone hitless in eight at bats since that first hit, he remains undaunted and resolute by the chance, though still perhaps covered in a little pixie dust.

Through it all, the former All-State catcher and quarterback from New Canaan remembers his roots.

“I’m from a small town in Connecticut with a not great-great reputation in baseball though I’m glad that’s turning around,” said Casali, whose brother Andrew threw a complete-game one-hitter in the state championship game a year ago. “It is unbelievable to get here. I hope to make the most of the opportunity.”