DETROIT — Typically not the emotional one, Lee Olson said it hit him like a tidal wave as he stood in the stands of Guaranteed Rate Field, formerly Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox.
“Usually I’m more collected, but when I saw him walk out onto the field, it just hit me,” said Olson, whose son, Reese, was called up to the Major Leagues by the Detroit Tigers on May 31.
“You just get this overwhelming sense of pride as a parent. Knowing all that hard work and time has led up to a moment like that, it’s almost hard to describe. The TV people put a camera in my face and it just all hit me right there. It was a very emotional moment for our entire family.”
Like all baseball families, the Olsons are riding the waves of Reese’s fledgling career. At the moment, they are on a huge crest.
The Tigers paid for their initial trip to Chicago and have “made us feel like family,” Lee said of the whirlwind first two weeks.
“They really made us feel special and we got to see things most people don’t get to behind the scenes. It was a tremendous experience for all of us.”
Reese, a former standout for North Hall, made his MLB debut on June 2, lasting five innings, allowing two runs on just two hits and one walk while striking out six in a tough loss to the White Sox. He pitched again six days later against the Philadelphia Phillies, going five innings in relief giving up one run on three hits and a walk and fanned three.
“You never know what to expect the first time so for him to go out and pitch like he did, that was just amazing,” Lee Olson said. "We have no idea how long he'll get to stay up (at the Major Leagues). Nothing is guaranteed and they haven't said anything to this point. They have some injuries so we'll just see how this goes."
Brother Griffin, a former high school standout as well for the Trojans, said he feels he is able, in a small part, to play out his baseball dreams through his younger brother.
“It’s so surreal that my little brother is living out the dream every baseball player dreams of,” Griffin said. “It was one of the happiest days of my life when he called and told me he is going to the big leagues. He works extremely hard behind the scenes and sticks to a routine better than anyone I have ever met.”
Reese is set to make his second start for the Tigers on Tuesday, and it will come against his hometown team. Olson will take on the Atlanta Braves at Comerica Park in Detroit, matching up against Atlanta ace Spencer Strider. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
Olson (0-1) has looked sharp so far after being called up from the Tigers AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens two weeks ago. He is posting a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings of work with 9 strikeouts. However, he is still looking for his first Major League win.
“He’s starting to figure some things out,” Lee Olson said. “He’s very dedicated and no one will outwork him. We’re Tiger fans now. It would be very cool if he got his first win against the Braves.”
The Braves come into the game as one of the top offensive teams in the league. Atlanta is third in batting average (.263), fourth in home runs (109) and fifth in the Major Leagues in runs scored (339, 5.14 runs/game).
The Tigers have scored the fewest runs in MLB (229, 3.58 runs/game) so far this season.
Admitting they are the superstitious kind, Lee Olson said they are pulling out all the stops in trying to help Reese get that first Major League win.
“Wearing the same clothes and other routines we used to do before games,” he said. “Sports people are very superstitious. We’re no different.”
