MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Just before high school ball, Montana DuRapau switched teams in his local organized baseball league for one reason — he wanted to pitch.
He got the chance one day to pitch against his former team, his first time on the mound. He took home a 1-0 victory.
That was the day he fell in love with pitching.
"Everyone was like, who's this Montana kid? He doesn't pitch," DuRapau recalled. "I got to face all my buddies who hadn't seen me pitch before. It was fun to beat them because they were always the best."
DuRapau said he never thought he'd be where he is today, but he'd always loved the concept of pitching — or "throwing the ball as hard as I could at you and seeing if you could hit it."
If the opposing batter couldn't hit the ball, DuRapau said, he won.
"I won a lot," he noted.
Now one step away from the majors in Indianapolis, DuRapau's professional career has been a grind. He started as a 32nd-round selection by the Pirates in 2014 out of Bethune-Cookman, rose through short-season Single A and up to Triple A by the end of 2017.
His 2018 season, though, was thwarted by a 50-game suspension for violating the MLB's drug policy for a second time. His second failed test was not due to performance-enhancing drugs.
In 2017, DuRapau posted a 1.49 ERA and didn't give up a single home run while with the Curve over 36.1 innings. With the Indians, he pitched 16.2 innings and posted a 3.24 ERA.
DuRapau came off suspension with a little rust, posting a 5.28 combined ERA between Double and Triple A in 19 games.
Despite the numbers, the 27-year-old right hander said he knew he'd earned a chance at redemption.
"I think what happened last year could have gone two ways. I could have let the mistake I made kind of destroy me, or I could have used it as a catalyst," he said Monday, coming off being named the Indians' Player of the Month for April. "I took the game for granted, and I could have thrown the opportunity of a lifetime away. The day my suspension ended and I got to play again, just walking on the field was like I'd never even seen a baseball game before. It was very refreshing. It put things into perspective for me. It's helped me take everything more seriously than I have in my entire life. It was a turning point. It sucks the way it happened, but it happened. If it hadn't happened, I might not be where I am right now."
DuRapau has put that all behind him, and he's been locked in on the mound this year.
Currently, DuRapau holds a 0.69 ERA through 12 games — 14.1 innings — this season, which includes nine scoreless appearances in April. He's given up just five hits and allowed only two runs — only one of which was earned. He's struck out 18 batters and walked just five while opposing hitters are hitting just .111 against him. He's converted on three of three save opportunities.
"It's kinda hard to complain about how the season is going right now. When things are going good, things are going good," he said. "I'm just trying to roll with it as long as I can. Any time they give me the ball, I'm just trying to put up zeros and help the team win."
DuRapau said it's been a mixture of confidence and an efficient changeup that's led to his success this campaign.
"Honestly, the confidence just comes from taking the mound and thinking clearly," he said. "When there's not a thought of doubt in your head, there's no what-ifs, there's no nothing. It's just every time I take the mound, I know I'm about to bring my best (stuff) against anybody I face. I'm not backing down from anybody. That catapults your confidence, and that's where I'm at right now."
That confidence goes back to his early days of pitching, he said. He likened the pitcher position to a constant fight.
"Baseball is a slower game, but the pitcher is constantly in combat. You're constantly battling someone else. That looked fun to me," he said. "I wanted to throw the ball as hard as I could against somebody and see if they could hit it. I always had a pretty good curveball growing up. My friends all thought it was disgusting. So, I wanted to be the guy who could throw a ball at you and make it do different things and see how far you could hit it."
With the Pirates current bullpen woes, DuRapau could be called up soon, though nothing has been put in stone from sources I've spoken to. Either way, DuRapau said he plans to continue focusing on what he can control and let the cards fall into play how they may.
"Personally, I try not to think too much about it. That can get in the way of your focus if you're constantly thinking about, 'Oh man, I'm pitching really well, it could be my time, it could be my time, it could be my time,'" he said. "You can shoot yourself in the foot, where you lose focus for a second and it sets you back. I'm not trying to worry about those things. There's no sense putting focus aside for things you have no control over. You've really got to take it day by day."
TRIBE’S TOP HITTERS
Here’s the Indians’ top hitters over the last week:
Jake Elmore, INF — 8-for-16 (.500), one home run, two RBIs, five walks
Kevin Kramer, INF — 9-for-22 (.409), two home runs, six RBIs, two doubles
Jose Osuna, 3B — 7-for-18 (.388), four doubles, one RBI, five walks
TRIBE’S TOP PITCHERS
Top starting performance: Dario Agrazal. Agrazal pitched two gems this week. First, against Columbus, he tossed 6.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out six. He walked just one batter in the winning effort. Later, against Louisville, he pitched 7.0 innings, struck out seven and surrendered just four hits while not allowing a single run to cross the plate in a no decision. They were Agrazal's first starts at Triple A, where he now posts a 1-0 record with a 1.32 ERA. He was named the International League Pitcher of the Week.
Top reliever: DuRapau. DuRapau picked up a save while throwing a combined three innings of work this week. He allowed just two hits while striking out four. He surrendered just one earned run.
THE ROSTER MOVES/INJURY UPDATE
Here’s the roster moves over the last week:
4/30: UTIL Jose Osuna has MLB rehab assignment transferred from High-A Bradenton to Indianapolis. He is wearing #43.
5/1: OF Jason Martin optioned by Pittsburgh (4/30), active in Indianapolis. He is wearing #31.
5/3: UTIL Jose Osuna reinstated from MLB rehab assignment by Pittsburgh, optioned and active in Indianapolis.
5/4: RHP Dovydas Neverauskas recalled by Pittsburgh.
INF Kevin Newman reinstated from MLB rehab assignment by Pittsburgh.
LHP Tyler Lyons has contract selected by Pittsburgh.
LHP Sean Keselica transferred from Double-A Altoona to Indianapolis. He is wearing #31.
UTIL Alfredo Reyes transferred from Indianapolis to Double-A Altoona.
OF Jason Martin has changed jersey numbers from #31 to #2.
5/6: LHP Jake Brentz transferred from Double-A Altoona to Indianapolis.
THE RESULTS/SCHEDULE
The Indians went 3-4 over the last seven days, but have lost their last two coming into the series opener with Scranton on the road. The Tribe has been outscored, 41-33, losing a series to Columbus, 2-1, and tying a series with Louisville, 2-2. After a three-game set with Scranton, Indianapolis travels to Lehigh Valley for a three-game set.
INDY FUN THING
The Indians' staff has fun on Twitter:
Let's call it a draw, @LouisvilleBats, and instead play a game of tag.
We'll start.
You're it. pic.twitter.com/TEq6GO0uzk
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) May 5, 2019
