So… You’re Saying There’s a Chance…

By Ryan McCrary

Thanks to all for reading. Here is an altogether new blog No. 13.

KALAMA, Wash. – Now this… this is patience. Last Friday (4/29) San Francisco Giants rookie Jason Krizan made his Major League debut and two days later collected his first hit in the Majors against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park.

It’s easy to talk about being patient, but Krizan took it to a whole new level. You see, the 32- year old Texan “happened to get a fastball that I could get a barrel to” and after 11 years and 1,132 games and 4,012 at-bats in the minors, got his first career MLB hit… using a borrowed bat. 

You can’t make this stuff up. I get goosebumps thinking about it.  

For those who might be wondering, he is no threat to break legendary Durham Bull Crash Davis’ home run record with 95 dingers, so no need to alert the Sporting News.

Krizan’s is a story of resilience, commitment and single minded dedication of purpose. You don’t think this guy ever had doubts? You think walking into a clubhouse with players a decade younger didn’t give him pause? 

There are lessons for all of us in the story of Jason Krizan, who was sent back down to the minors after collecting his first hit on the biggest stage. 

QUOTABALE: “The game’s evolving, and I’m still learning stuff every day. I got drafted in 2011. And in 2011, it was kind of the end of the pre-analytical era. It was before all the technology and watching it develop. I’m still learning, and it’s fun.”

– Jason Krizan during 2022 Spring Training

QUOTABLE II: “Know what the difference between hitting .250 and .300 is? It’s 25 hits – 25 hits in 500 at-bats is 50 points. There’s six months in a season, that’s about 25 weeks. That means if you get just one extra flare a week – just one – you get a ground ball with eyes, you get a dying quail, just one more dying quail a week … and you’re in Yankee Stadium.”
 – Crash Davis, Bull Durham