Pittsburgh — Six years after being diagnosed with two different cancers, four years after being drafted by the Mets, and three years after reaching Triple-A, Eric Orze finally got the news he had been waiting for: the Mets were calling him up to the majors.
When Syracuse Mets manager Dick Scott announced the news to the entire team in the Worcester clubhouse on Friday night, the usually talkative right-hander was left speechless.
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“I’ve been focusing on doing my job and throwing the ball well, trying to stay focused,” Orze said Saturday in the PNC Park dugout. “When I got the news, everyone was like, ‘Speech! Speech!’ And I was just like, ‘I don’t have any words. I don’t know what to say. I have nothing.’”
The 26-year-old right-hander, soon to be 27, had seemed to plateau in Triple-A, appearing in 133 minor league games, 107 of them at Triple-A. This wasn’t how he envisioned his career, especially when he felt he was on the fast track to the majors.
Life rarely follows the plan, and Orze knows this better than most. He always intended to pitch in the big leagues, but he didn’t expect to battle testicular cancer, metastatic melanoma, or even his own ego. These challenges made this moment even more significant.
“It’s been a crazy journey of ups and downs,” Orze said. “At first, I was just smiling and happy, but then the clubhouse cleared out a bit, and as I packed some of my stuff, I got a little emotional. All those tough times came back for a minute. All of it was worth it. All of it made me the person and player I am today.
“I wouldn’t change anything.”
Orze now throws more strikes and harder pitches (95 MPH fastball). He’s still using the splitter that got him into professional baseball to miss bats. Though home runs remain a concern, he’s been able to minimize the damage.
This season, Orze is 3-0 with a 3.76 ERA in 26 games (16 earned runs in 38 1/3 innings). He aims to throw a strike on the first pitch every time.
“That’s an advantage when you’re in counts,” Orze said. “It makes it easier to expand the zone and pitch to your strengths.”
One of Orze’s strengths is pitching to left-handed hitters. Lefties have hit just .182 against him in Triple-A this season.
“We know he can be effective against lefties, we know the split is his pitch,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “I’m excited to have him here.”
However, the biggest change for Orze has been mental. After admitting to an “ego problem,” he was humbled by cancer and years in the minors. His attitude and outlook on life and baseball transformed, especially during his cancer treatments.
“Cancer was a blessing,” Orze told the Daily News during spring training. “The optimism and change of perspective on life that came out of it was very beneficial for this kind of career.”
Entering this spring training, Orze knew he was a long shot. He stopped trying to prove everyone wrong and focused more on preparation, trusting that he would reach the big leagues when the time was right.
The time is finally right.
“Sometimes I forget, but then moments like yesterday bring back those emotions,” Orze said. “Remembering what I had to go through to get here, I just appreciate that journey a little bit more.”
