The Yorkton Cardinals are well into the current Western Major Baseball League season.
While the current Cardinals try to refine their skills to progress in the sport, a former Cardinal is trying to find his way back to the major leagues after a previous short stint with the most fabled franchises in the game, the New York Yankees.
Anthony Claggett wore a Cardinal uniform in 2004, and was drafted a year later.
"I was drafted the following year by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th round," Claggett told Yorkton This Week. "It was a great surprise when I was drafted because it was my first year of pitching and I didn't expect to get drafted that high."
Claggett noted, "I came in (with the Cardinals) playing middle infield and I believe I had some innings on the mound as well.
Claggett would end up in the Yankees' organization, moving in a trade from the Tigers which included Gary Sheffield, and actually made his major league debut in one of the more memorable games of 2009.
Claggett entered the game on April 18 at Yankee Stadium in the second innings with Cleveland already up 4-0. He would toss one and two-third innings, leaving the game with the Indians up by 14-runs and sporting a 43-plus earned-run-average. He allowed eight runs, all of them earned on nine hits, and walking two. Cleveland won the game 22-4.
The following Monday Claggett was returned to the Yankees AAA affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
"It was definitely a hard situation to be in for my first outing but I don't think I was thrown to the wolves," he said, adding, "I wish my outing went better but I wouldn't change that memory for anything. It will be a great story to tell my grandchildren one day."
Whether the game played a role or not, Claggett's time with the Yankees proved short-lived.
"I was taken off the roster in September of 2009 and claimed off waivers by the Pirates shortly after," he said.
Claggett is still in the Pirate chain trying to make it to the big club.
"I am currently with the Indianapolis Indians - Triple A for the Pirates," he said, adding "the biggest thing for me to get back to the big leagues I have to be more consistent from outing-to-outing. I need to be someone that our coaches can rely on from day-to-day.
Claggett said in general terms adapting to professional baseball was a steep learning curve.
"I think the hardest part of adjusting to pro ball was being away from home for such a long period of time," he said. "It's hard when you can't see your friends and family on a regular basis."
A level of patience is also required.
"The hardest part of climbing to the major leagues was the wait," said Claggett. "I have made every step of the way from short single A to Low A to high A to Double A and Triple A. I played at each level from 2005 to 2009. Some guys get moved up during the year or even skip levels from year-to-year, but I played at each level for a whole year.
"It was a long wait but well worth it."
As for his season with the Cardinals, Claggett said it a summer he fondly recalls.
"My time with the team was a great experience. Our team had a great group of guys and I learned a lot from them that year," he said. "I really had a great time."
