Jackrabbit reaches big leagues

The SDSU baseball program has accomplished plenty during its storied 66-year history.

The Jackrabbits have won conference and regional titles and they have been to the Division II College World Series.

Two more achievements came their way during the 2013 season: SDSU advanced to the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time and a former player became the first Jackrabbit to appear in a major league game.

Caleb Thielbar still can’t believe he was the chosen one.

“There have been so many great players in the past that it’s still crazy to think that no one else had made it this far,” he says. “It’s hard to believe that’s the first time it’s ever happened. I have a lot of Jackrabbit pride in me.”

The Randolph, Minn., native, who played for the Jacks from 2006 to 2009, was called up by the Minnesota Twins May 20 from Triple-A Rochester in New York.

The call is made

Crazy might just be the word that best describes the hectic events surrounding his arrival in the big leagues.

After getting the call at noon that Monday, Thielbar was on a plane to Atlanta for the series opener against the Braves at Turner Field. He jumped in a cab and got to the field 15 minutes before game time and began playing catch in the bullpen.

Sure enough, in the seventh with the Twins trailing, 5-0, Thielbar got the call from the Minnesota dugout. Incredibly, only nine hours removed from Rochester, he was on the mound making his major league debut.

With human nature dictating butterflies in the gut, Thielbar forced himself to calm down, if that was even possible.

“I hadn’t been that nervous to pitch in my entire life,” he says. “It was an unreal feeling that I’ll never forget. With all the adrenaline flowing I just had to remind myself that it is the same game as always.”

And, settle down Thielbar did. After Andrelton Simmons welcomed him to the big leagues by banging his first pitch to left for a single, Thielbar retired the next three batters. He also retired the Braves in order in the eighth; of the six outs, three were strikeouts.

“It probably helped actually by not having much time to sit and think about it,” says Thielbar, referring to his hurried arrival to the game. “But, always the thought is to do your job and get outs. It’s not that simple sometimes with all the thoughts running through your mind.”

Better hitters, technology

Thielbar’s performance was a good indicator of what was to come because against Tampa Bay July 8 the left-hander surrendered his first run after 18 appearances. As of Aug. 10 he owned a 2-1 record with 27 strikeouts and 11 walks. In 30 innings of work he had allowed only three earned runs for a 0.89 earned run average.

While big league hitters are much better and more complete compared to those in the minor leagues, Thielbar counters that the amount of information on the batters is much better, too.

“We have video of every at-bat, hot/cold zones like you would see in a video game and every other tendency that they have,” he says. “So, while major league players are better, there is information to help even the playing field.”

Selected in the 18th round of the major league draft by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009, Thielbar spent two seasons in the Brewers’ organization before signing with the Twins late in 2011 after a brief stint with the St. Paul Saints of the Independent American Association.

Thielbar earned a spot on Minnesota’s 40-man roster following a strong 2012 season. He started out at Class A Fort Myers in the Florida State League before joining the Double-A New Britain team in Connecticut, where he made 16 relief appearances. He spent the final three months of 2012 at Rochester posting a 3-1 record with one save and a 3.57 earned run average in 25 appearances.

Before he got the May 2013 call from the Twins, Thielbar made 17 appearances with Rochester, turning in a 1-1 record with one save and a 3.76 earned run average. He registered 34 strikeouts and only eight walks in 26.1 innings.

Good to be home

A wildlife and fisheries major at SDSU, Thielbar often thinks back to his Jackrabbit days.

“I enjoyed my time in Brookings and wouldn’t change my decision to go to SDSU,” he says. “I still enjoy going back in the offseason and would love to move back there at some point.”

As a Jackrabbit, Thiebar posted a career record of 20-19, setting career records in innings pitched (274) and starts (44). He ranks second in career strikeouts (196) and shares the single-season strikeout record (100).

“My career wasn’t as good numbers-wise as I would have liked but I hope that my graduating class helped pave the way for future teams to have lots of success,” he says. “There was a great sense of Jackrabbit pride seeing the guys go to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. I know that many former players were paying close attention to this year’s success.”

His rise to the major leagues was made even sweeter due to the team that made it happen.

“Being with the Twins makes it that much better because it’s the team I grew up rooting for,” says Thielbar, who notes it’s good to be back home instead of being 1,000 miles away in the minor leagues.

“It’s much more fun to be at home where family and friends can watch,” he says. Pausing, he adds, “Now I can hang out with my dog—can’t do that in the minor leagues.”

Kyle Johnson