Last night, the Philadelphia Phillies handed to ball to rookie pitcher Zach Eflin, who had to make the first start of his big-league career against the Toronto Blue Jays. Eflin, age 22, was a first-round pick in the 2012 draft and posted a 2.90 ERA in 68 innings at Triple A this year. The Phillies are a rebuilding team, and Eflin is exactly the kind of pitcher they need to develop if they ever want to get good again. In his first start, Eflin hit some, uh, let’s call them hurdles.




The rookie only managed to record eight outs, and allowed eight earned runs on nine hits. He walked three, struck out two, and served up three dinger balls. He became the first pitcher since 2009 to allow eight or more earned runs in fewer than three innings in his debut, and his eight earned runs were the most allowed by a Phillies pitcher in his debut since 1927. It was a rough way to begin a career, okay? Real rough!

But you know who isn’t letting that start get him down? Zach Eflin. Despite getting his shit ruined in front of his family and God, Eflin was in good spirits after the game:


Zach Eflin seems like he gets it. I hope he goes out there and strikes out 12 jamokes in his next start.

Photo via AP