It wasn't that long ago that Brandon Finnegan had completed one of the fastest ascents through a major-league organization.
The left-handed pitcher was drafted 17th overall by the Kansas City Royals last June, made his major-league debut in September, then was included on the team's playoff roster.
Thursday’s game
ARKANSAS VS. TULSA
WHEN 7:10 p.m.
WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas
WEBSITE travs.com
PITCHERS Travs: Albert Suarez (RHP, 2-3, 2.83 ERA); Drillers: TBA
TICKETS Gates open 1 hour before first pitch. $13 box, $9 reserved ($6 children), $7 general admission ($5 children).
PROMOTIONS Cabot and Jacksonville community night. … First 750 fans receive free “Strike out Stroke” T-shirts.
SHORT HOPS Travs starter Kyle McGowin left Tuesday’s game in the fifth inning after falling awkwardly on his right arm while trying to field a bunt. Manager Bill Richardson said he wasn’t sure of the severity of the injury. … Outfielder Chad Hinshaw left Tuesday for the Los Angeles Angels’ spring training facility in Tempe, Ariz., to learn if his injured hand needs surgery, Richardson said.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY off
THURSDAY Tulsa, 7:10 p.m.
FRIDAY Tulsa, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY Tulsa, 7:10 p.m.
SUNDAY Tulsa, 2:10 p.m.
MONDAY at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
TUESDAY at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
Four months after helping TCU advance to the College World Series, Finnegan made one appearance in the World Series to become the first player to appear in both events in the same year.
"It was fun," said Finnegan, who started Tuesday but didn't factor into the decision in Northwest Arkansas' 8-3 victory over the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. "But it was just baseball. Stuff I'm used to."
The present isn't nearly as exciting for Finnegan as the recent past.
Rather than pitching in front of 40,000 fans as he did in Game 3 of last year's World Series, or even in a major-league park like he did less than a week ago, Finnegan found himself in front of 8,145 school children Tuesday afternoon in North Little Rock as he continues to make the transition from being a reliever to a starter at Class AA Northwest Arkansas.
Finnegan held the Travs hitless through 2 2/3 innings, striking out 4 and walking 2 in his first start since being sent back to Northwest Arkansas last Thursday to be a part of its rotation.
"It's just hard to go from the big leagues back to the minor leagues," he said. "You don't have any adrenaline. It's just hard to just get into it. That was my main problem."
Finnegan, 22, has appeared in more major-league games (18) than minor-league games (16), but the Royals feel his long-term future is as a starter and that development is needed. Finnegan said he was pleased overall about his minor-league return but admitted something was missing when he threw his first pitch a little after 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Naturals Manager Vance Wilson didn't have many complaints. Finnegan retired the first six batters he faced before walking the first two batters to lead off the third. He struck out D'Arby Myers before exiting because he was nearing a strict pitch count, which Wilson declined to specify.
Wilson said he has been satisfied so far with how Finnegan has handled the initial stages of the transition.
"It's tough for anyone, but it's really tough on a kid that hasn't spent a lot of time in the minor leagues," Wilson said. "A lot of the developmental things that our guys go through for four years, he hasn't had any. It's been very tough, but he's handled it professionally."
Finnegan spent most of spring training with the Royals but started the season with the Naturals, making two starts before being called up April 24 by the Royals. He compiled a 2.70 ERA in 4 relief appearances with the big-league club, striking out 6 in 6 2/3 innings.
Finnegan was optioned to Northwest Arkansas when reliever Luke Hochevar returned from the disabled list last week, and he said Tuesday that his early taste of the major leagues will aid in him getting back no matter how long that takes.
"Nobody wants to be down here," he said. "There's a reason the minor leagues isn't fun, but it's part of the process. Everybody has to go through it. So do I.
"I'm here. I'm going to work at whatever they want me to work at."
Finnegan helped the Naturals retain control of the Texas League North Division on Tuesday and complete their first four-game home sweep of the Travs in three seasons.
Mike Bianucci and Balbino Fuenmayor each hit home runs for the Naturals, who had 12 hits and scored in four of the last five innings to extend their lead in the division to 2 1/2 games.
The Travs hit just .207 over the four-game series. They are mired in their longest losing streak of the season, but Richardson said his team could use today's off day before opening a four-game home series Thursday against Tulsa.
"I'd rather not have the day off," Richardson said. "But, you know, I'll get away from it today as I hope they do, and I'm real excited to come back and improve."
Sports on 05/13/2015