C-ville, TRCC alum pitches tonight for Giants

Southeast Missouri native Matt Palmer makes his big league debut tonight in Atlanta.

Palmer graduated from Caruthersville High School and played at Three Rivers Community College. We hope to talk with him sometime this week but in the meantime, here's the story we did last summer during our Catching Up With series.

By TANNER KENT, Daily American Republic.

A goal is like first base: There are a lot of ways to reach it.

Sometimes you round first and head for second and sometimes you're left stranded. Sometimes the journey is quick and spirited, sometimes labored and rocky. Some arrive because of luck, some because of talent and some never arrive at all.

But Matt Palmer is almost there. In fact, Palmer -- who was a standout baseball player for Caruthersville High School and for Three Rivers -- is on the very brink of realizing his life's goal: playing major league baseball.

"I always promised my grandparents I would keep pushing until I reach my goal," Palmer said. "This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid."

Palmer is currently pitching for the Fresno Grizzlies, the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate. The Grizzlies play in one of the most renowned and respected divisions in all of minor league baseball -- the Pacific Coast League -- and feed an organization that has produced such rookie sensations such as Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Fred Lewis.

While facing some of Triple-A's best competition, Palmer has compiled a record of 4-3 with a respectable ERA (4.12) and WHIP (1.30). Palmer also leads his team in strikeouts (47) and innings pitched (67.2).

"The Pacific Coast League is a great hitters league and Palmer is putting up some pretty good numbers," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. "He has a great chance to be called up."

Palmer, however, is fairly aged for a rookie at 27. This year already marks his sixth year of minor league baseball with his fifth different team. Palmer, who was selected by the Giants in the 31st round of the 2002 draft has spent time in Maryland, Connecticut, Oregon and California.

His ascent to Triple-A ball has not been an easy one. He spent four years laboring in Double-A and has had to overcome injuries and setbacks. But his own doubts have been his toughest opponent yet.

"Being a minor-league pitcher isn't always an easy situation because you don't make much money," said Palmer, whose wife gave birth to his first son nine months ago. "You always question yourself, 'Am I good enough?'"

But at every level Palmer has pitched at, the answer to that question has been a resounding yes.

At Caruthersville, Palmer was a star with overpowering stuff. He then moved on to Three Rivers where he quickly built a reputation as a dependable pitcher with a competitive demeanor and an aggressive work ethic.

As a sophomore, Palmer set the Three Rivers' single-season innings pitched record with 99 1/3 innings -- a record that still stands by 20-plus innings. He was the team's go-to man on the mound, recording 99 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.19.

Burkey, who was still the Raiders' head coach back then, said Palmer was a fierce competitor with a certain fearlessness in clutch situations.

"His sophomore year, he showed no fear," Burkey said. "Palmer seemed to make his best pitches in tight situations. And when a guy can play his best during those critical points, those pivotal moments of a game, it separates him from other players."

While at Three Rivers, Palmer said he learned how to control his emotions and harness his energy. He credits Burkey with teaching him the mental aspects of pitching and said Thomas Brundage -- a former trainer at The PARC -- taught him how to dedicate his mind and body to the goal of reaching the major leagues.

"Brundage was like a drill sergeant," Palmer said. "I don't know if I'd be here without him. He kept me inside the lines and taught me how to work."

Brundage said that when Palmer arrived at Three Rivers, he was a raw talent who had his own way of doing things. But he recognized Palmer's potential and sought to maximize it through a strict regimen of work, work, work.

"I remember (Palmer) as a strong-willed young man with his own ideas," Brundage said. "Our wills clashed a little bit in the beginning. But during his sophomore year, he realized what I was trying to do and how I was trying to help him. And from then on, he bought in."

With a little aid from Brundage, Palmer committed himself both physically and mentally to reaching the major leagues. He worked hard in the weight room and on building his cardiovascular fitness -- two crucial components to a pitcher who prides himself on being an innings-eater.

Scouts then began to take notice of the 6-foot-2-inch righthander. A few major league teams, as well as a couple four-year colleges, began to show interest. They liked his stuff, his winning attitude and his devout work ethic.

"He became willing to work without being watched," Brundage said. "I told him that the discipline he learned would not only help on the field, but in life. I knew he'd be successful in whatever he did."

After Three Rivers, Palmer moved on to Southwest Missouri State where he galvanized his reputation as a workhorse with a competitive streak. After being drafted by the Giants in 2002, Palmer immediately went to work for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes -- a low-A affiliate of the Giants. After stops in the Eastern League with the Norwich Navigators and Connecticut Defenders, Palmer made his debut with the Grizzlies this year.

Palmer said he is developing his repertoire -- which includes a natural cut-fastball, hard sinker, circle-change and curveball -- and his ability to spot his pitches low in the strikezone.

"I just need to get more consistent and more efficient," Palmer said.

There is an outside chance that Palmer could be called up to the Giants this year as a middle reliever -- especially in case of an injury. It is also possible that Palmer could get the call-up during September when major league teams expand their rosters to 40 players.

But, for now, Palmer said he will just continue proving to himself and to the Giants' organization that he belongs in the major leagues.

"I've been throwing well, I know I can still compete," Palmer said.

UPDATE: Here's something from the Associated Press:

The Giants lost for the fifth time in six games. They have allowed 39 runs in the five losses.

San Francisco right hander Matt Palmer gave up seven hits and six runs in 2 1-3 innings in his major league debut. Palmer (0-1) started for Jonathan Sanchez, who was placed on the disabled list because of a strained left shoulder.

"Matt's game is command and getting ahead. It wasn't there for him," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Whether nerves played a part, I don't know. But that was a rough night for the staff. It makes it a little more difficult when your long man starts and we had to go get him early."

Palmer is the club-record 15th rookie to make his major league debut with the Giants this season. The last team to have 15 players appear in their first major league games before September was the 1954 Philadelphia Athletics, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.