Two Tommy John surgeries later, Tolman tosses scoreless frame in MLB debut

MIAMI -- After being promoted to the Majors on Aug. 19, left-hander Erik Tolman had to wait three days before debuting in the Nationals’ 4-2 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot park on Saturday.

But that wait was nothing compared to what Tolman endured on his journey to big leagues.

“It’s been a lot of emotions and just a lot of reminiscing on everything that I went through in the last couple years,” said Tolman, a former 14th-round Draft pick in 2021 out of Arizona State. “It’s been a crazy roller coaster and the last couple days have just been all nothing but smiles.”

His journey included two Tommy John surgeries, the first while in his junior year at Arizona State and another in 2022, and tearing every ligament in his knee in 2023. So when Tolman finally made his way to a Major League mound on Saturday, the 27-year-old took a moment to appreciate everything it had taken to get there.

“Incredible story,” manager Blake Butera said. “Super proud of Erik and happy for him. He’s overcome a lot to get to this point, and it was a really good performance by him as well.”

Tolman jogged from the bullpen to the mound in the seventh inning, picked up the ball, got a few stretches in, planted his right foot on the rubber and threw his first warmup pitch to catcher Harry Ford.

“Before I actually stared at the batter, I looked around and just [embraced] the moment. After a few seconds, took a couple breaths and locked back in,” Tolman said.

Once he did that, Tolman wasted little time making his debut official.

He struck out Esteury Ruiz looking on an 83.9 mph changeup up in the zone on the sixth pitch of the at-bat.

“Pretty cool,” Tolman said. “I kind of blacked [out], but yeah, elevated changeup. Sometimes [the] best pitch in the game, and other times worst pitch in the game. So I’ll take it.”

Xavier Edwards bunted for a single before Griffin Conine and Agustín Ramírez were retired on a flyout and groundout.

After throwing 16 pitches (10 strikes), Tolman walked back to the visitor's dugout, where his teammates were waiting for him. He was met with high fives and hugs, including a long hug from pitching coach Simon Mathews.

“[I knew] most of these guys back in 2021 when I was rehabbing my first TJ,” Tolman said. “There’s been a handful of them that I’ve known and I’ve seen their progress and growth over the years. It showed me that if I want to be where they are at, that I got to do the same type of stuff.

“They’ve been nothing but welcoming here. And as long as I’m up here and new guys come up, I’ll be an example for them as well because everyone else in here was an example to me.”

That support has been important throughout Tolman’s journey, but perhaps no one has been more important than his parents, Linda and Bill, who were in attendance Saturday.

“I am so happy that they made it,” Tolman said. “I wouldn’t want anyone else that would be in those stands with me.”

During his recovery, Tolman spent a lot of time thinking about what he wanted his life to look like beyond baseball and he remembers the exact date he decided he was going to make it to The Show.

“It was New Year's 2024,” Tolman said. “I made the commitment, ‘Alright, I’m gonna put my foot down, and I’m gonna change some habits in my life because I know what I really want in life.’ It’s pretty cool just being here.”

That led Tolman to make changes in his daily life. He started making his bed first thing in the morning, eating healthier, working out harder and focusing more on his mindset.

“What you take into your mind is kind of who you become,” Tolman said. “So if you’re always negative and putting bad thoughts in your brain, I think you will be a negative person. And I went the opposite way, which might be a little corny sometimes, but no, just great thoughts in my brain, and the outcome showed it tonight.”

For Ford, who caught for Tolman at Triple-A Jacksonville, being behind the plate for his debut made the moment even more meaningful.

“Knowing his story, how much he’s done to get here, he’s dealt with a lot of injuries and really fought hard,” Ford said. “So to see him come get up here, I mean, just even doing it once, it was amazing. It’s just a special thing to be a part of as a catcher. ... I feel like I’m with them.”