Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Curtis, McGuire share special bond as player, coach
5/1/2016 1:34:00 PM | Baseball
Former Raider made MLB debut Saturday
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – People doubted Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Curtis throughout his career.
At 5-foot-9, Curtis, a former Middle Tennessee standout, was dismissed as too small to play baseball at the Division I level, let alone the professional ranks, while in high school and even junior college. Size was just one of the questions regarding Curtis.
Too small, didn't throw hard enough, didn't have the grades academically. Those were some of the other concerns surrounding Curtis.
Scouts, college coaches, even friends, questioned whether Curtis had the tools to excel at the game he loved most even though his work ethic was off the charts.
One of the few who didn't question Curtis' ability was Middle Tennessee Head Baseball Coach Jim McGuire, perhaps because he knew what was inside of Curtis. The two have a longstanding relationship dating back to Curtis' mid-teens at Hendersonville High School.
"We have had a relationship since he was in high school when he moved up here and started pitching at Hendersonville and then coming to our team camps, just being around him, you knew he was a special guy who was going to have to overcome a lot if he was going to make it, both academically and everything else he had going," McGuire said. "It just shows the toughness and the work ethic and the type of person he is, and now he has a family and he is getting to live his ultimate dream of pitching in the Big Leagues."
Curtis was called up from Visalia, the Arizona Diamondbacks Single A Advanced team, to the parent club following his team's victory Friday. He became the 14th Blue Raider to reach the Major Leagues. He also made his MLB debut Saturday night when he came on to pitch against the Rockies with runners at first and second and one out. Three pitches later, Curtis had induced a ground-ball double play and his debut was official.
One of the first calls Curtis made upon learning of his promotion was to McGuire.
"It was one of the best calls I was able to make," Curtis said. "Coach McGuire believed in me from day one. He was with me from the time I was 15 or 16 coming to camp at Middle Tennessee. He took a liking to me. He never gave up on me.
"I couldn't get into a Division I school out of high school because I didn't have the grades. 'Mags' never quit coming around. He followed me at (Vol State). After two years in junior college I signed with Middle Tennessee."
Curtis was 5-4 with a 4.93 ERA in his junior campaign – his first as a Blue Raider.
Despite what Curtis called struggles during his junior year, McGuire was still in his corner.
"Even though I struggled my first year Mags still never doubted me," Curtis said. "He stayed with me, believed in me. To call someone who put that type of belief in you and tell them you made it, it just brought tears to my eyes as we talked. I had the greatest conversation with him (Saturday morning)."
Curtis rewarded McGuire and Blue Raider fans with a brilliant senior campaign. The dominant lefty was sensational as he led Division I baseball in strikeouts with 136. He posted a 9-3 record with a 1.89 ERA, tossed two shutouts and completed five games on his way to earning first-team All-Conference USA honors.
Curtis set a franchise saves record in his second year of professional baseball. He was a sixth-round draft choice following the sterling 2014 campaign. He enjoyed a solid short season at Single A Hillsboro in the Northwest League before moving on to Kane County to pitch in Single A baseball in 2015. He earned 33 saves to establish a new single-season saves record for Kane County. He struck out 75 in 54 innings and posted a 4-4 record with a 1.33 ERA.
McGuire, who has recruited several players who reached the Major Leagues from Middle Tennessee, admits the call from Curtis was a bit more special.
"To get that call (from players) saying they are going to the Major Leagues is one of the most awesome things as a coach and, fortunately, the last few years we have had four or five that I have got the call from," McGuire said. "I guess, technically, Zac is my first one as a head coach as far as coaching him both years he was here and recruiting him, too. That makes this one a little more special."
While Curtis obviously is the special person and player McGuire projected years ago when he was still in the development stages, the bond they share is equally exceptional.
"Mags works so hard and believes in his players," Curtis said. "When you can give back to him it makes for a special moment. Mags wants to win games and championships, but he genuinely cares about his players and wants to see them do well in whatever they do."
In Curtis' case, he has reached the pinnacle of his profession in regard to pitching at the highest level of the sport.
McGuire never had a doubt.
At 5-foot-9, Curtis, a former Middle Tennessee standout, was dismissed as too small to play baseball at the Division I level, let alone the professional ranks, while in high school and even junior college. Size was just one of the questions regarding Curtis.
Too small, didn't throw hard enough, didn't have the grades academically. Those were some of the other concerns surrounding Curtis.
Scouts, college coaches, even friends, questioned whether Curtis had the tools to excel at the game he loved most even though his work ethic was off the charts.
One of the few who didn't question Curtis' ability was Middle Tennessee Head Baseball Coach Jim McGuire, perhaps because he knew what was inside of Curtis. The two have a longstanding relationship dating back to Curtis' mid-teens at Hendersonville High School.
"We have had a relationship since he was in high school when he moved up here and started pitching at Hendersonville and then coming to our team camps, just being around him, you knew he was a special guy who was going to have to overcome a lot if he was going to make it, both academically and everything else he had going," McGuire said. "It just shows the toughness and the work ethic and the type of person he is, and now he has a family and he is getting to live his ultimate dream of pitching in the Big Leagues."
Curtis was called up from Visalia, the Arizona Diamondbacks Single A Advanced team, to the parent club following his team's victory Friday. He became the 14th Blue Raider to reach the Major Leagues. He also made his MLB debut Saturday night when he came on to pitch against the Rockies with runners at first and second and one out. Three pitches later, Curtis had induced a ground-ball double play and his debut was official.
One of the first calls Curtis made upon learning of his promotion was to McGuire.
"It was one of the best calls I was able to make," Curtis said. "Coach McGuire believed in me from day one. He was with me from the time I was 15 or 16 coming to camp at Middle Tennessee. He took a liking to me. He never gave up on me.
"I couldn't get into a Division I school out of high school because I didn't have the grades. 'Mags' never quit coming around. He followed me at (Vol State). After two years in junior college I signed with Middle Tennessee."
Curtis was 5-4 with a 4.93 ERA in his junior campaign – his first as a Blue Raider.
Despite what Curtis called struggles during his junior year, McGuire was still in his corner.
"Even though I struggled my first year Mags still never doubted me," Curtis said. "He stayed with me, believed in me. To call someone who put that type of belief in you and tell them you made it, it just brought tears to my eyes as we talked. I had the greatest conversation with him (Saturday morning)."
Curtis rewarded McGuire and Blue Raider fans with a brilliant senior campaign. The dominant lefty was sensational as he led Division I baseball in strikeouts with 136. He posted a 9-3 record with a 1.89 ERA, tossed two shutouts and completed five games on his way to earning first-team All-Conference USA honors.
Curtis set a franchise saves record in his second year of professional baseball. He was a sixth-round draft choice following the sterling 2014 campaign. He enjoyed a solid short season at Single A Hillsboro in the Northwest League before moving on to Kane County to pitch in Single A baseball in 2015. He earned 33 saves to establish a new single-season saves record for Kane County. He struck out 75 in 54 innings and posted a 4-4 record with a 1.33 ERA.
McGuire, who has recruited several players who reached the Major Leagues from Middle Tennessee, admits the call from Curtis was a bit more special.
"To get that call (from players) saying they are going to the Major Leagues is one of the most awesome things as a coach and, fortunately, the last few years we have had four or five that I have got the call from," McGuire said. "I guess, technically, Zac is my first one as a head coach as far as coaching him both years he was here and recruiting him, too. That makes this one a little more special."
While Curtis obviously is the special person and player McGuire projected years ago when he was still in the development stages, the bond they share is equally exceptional.
"Mags works so hard and believes in his players," Curtis said. "When you can give back to him it makes for a special moment. Mags wants to win games and championships, but he genuinely cares about his players and wants to see them do well in whatever they do."
In Curtis' case, he has reached the pinnacle of his profession in regard to pitching at the highest level of the sport.
McGuire never had a doubt.
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