Flip on the television to watch the San Francisco Giants play and you might see a familiar player on the mound, familiar at least for fans of the Western Major Baseball League Yorkton Cardinals.
Left-hander Dan Runzler, who wore a Cardinal uniform in the summer of 2004, is now in the Giants' bullpen.
Runzler said making his debut with the Giants in a late season call-up in 2009, and now being on the 25-man roster are huge milestones.
"Obviously it's a dream come true to get up here, to become a player on such a great team," he said in a telephone interview with Yorkton This Week.
Runzler was along for the ride last season too as the Giants made it to post season play, appearing in 41-games and going 3-0 with 3.03 earned run average and 37 strikeouts.
However Runzler would suffer an injury and not make the Giants' post season roster as the team went on to win the World Series.
"It was tough (watching)," he admitted, but added "I wasn't healthy enough long enough to make the roster."
While not getting to play, Runzler said the Giants post season run "was an experience of a lifetime."
It is a long way from Yorkton to the Major Leagues, but Runzler said he still has good memories of his time with the Cardinals, even staying in touch with former WMBL teammate Anthony Claggett who is at the AAA level with the Pittsburgh Pirate organization.
"It was great getting to know all the guys," he said, adding it was a new experience for someone born in California (Santa Monica), and attending college there too.
It was good for him as a baseball player too.
"It was a chance for me to pitch lots," he said, adding "I just love pitching."
As a Cardinal in 2004 Runzler went 3-1 with 3.05 ERA, tossing 38.1 innings and striking out 48, holding opponents to a .170 batting average.
Two seasons later Runzler would be selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 17th round (501st overall) of the 2006 amateur entry draft but did not sign. In the 2007 amateur entry draft, he was selected by the Giants in the ninth round (284th overall).
The break-out year for Runzler was 2009, when he
played for four different teams within the Giants farm system. He began the season with the Augusta Greenjackets, where he earned a spot on the South Atlantic League mid-season all star team, but never got to appear in the game because he was promoted to Class A San Jose in the California League.
For Runzler the San Jose experience was short-lived. He spent only two months before moving on to AA, pitching for the Connecticut Defenders in the Eastern League.
The Connecticut stay was even shorter. After two weeks, he was promoted to AAA Fresno in the Pacific Coast League before finally being called up to the Giants in September 2009.
It is believed that Runzler is the only player in Giants' history to play minor league ball at all four full season levels and make the major leagues in the same season.
Runzler was selected by Major League Baseball as the '2009 Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year'.
"It was a lot of good timing, and I was throwing the ball well too," said Runzler. "I kept the momentum going at every level. It was definitely a whole lot of fun -- definitely a great season."
Runzler made his Major League debut against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sept. 4, 2009, striking out center fielder Jody Gerut on three pitches. Runzler appeared in 11 games with San Francisco in 2009, striking out 11 batters in eight innings with an ERA of 1.04.
Runzler now works on a pitching staff with some of the best in the game, including two-time National League Cy Young Award recipient Tim Lincecum, and Brian Wilson one of the games current best closers with 145 career saves.
"We've got such a great pitching staff,"admitted Runzler. "Being able to pick their brains every day is great It's great to just work with such a talented group of pitchers.
Runlzer said this year the competition is tough.
"Once you win the World Series it puts a target on your back. You know teams are coming after you," he said.
For a young pitcher the added pressure is just part of a continuing learning experience.
"I know I'm here for a reason," he said, adding "I've got to perform every night and go on from there."
Runzler said looking ahead he has no specific personal goals beyond honing his craft on the mound.
"I just want to be the best pitcher I can be," he said, adding when asked, "I just want to get the job done I just try to go out there and throw zeroes."
