Boyd, in moment he never thought possible, hits 10-year mark in MLB
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CHICAGO -- Matthew Boyd remembers what it was like celebrating Justin Verlander reaching 10 years of service time when both were teammates with the Tigers in 2015. As he acknowledged the milestone accomplishment of a likely future Hall of Famer, Boyd also couldn’t help but hope that one day he’d be able enjoy a moment like this himself.
“You're sitting there going, 'Wow, that's an amazing accomplishment,’” Boyd said. “You hope and you believe it will be you at some point.”
Eleven years later, that day finally arrived for the Cubs southpaw.
In a tenure that has featured transitions to five different clubs, undergoing Tommy John surgery and a late career renaissance, Boyd was finally able to celebrate 10 years of big league service on Saturday. He did so right before allowing just one run in six innings to log his third quality start of the season in Chicago’s 6-2 win over the Twins.
“I'm grateful,” Boyd said after the victory. “It's one of those things where you always believe in your heart it's going to happen, but there were plenty of points where ... this would have been something I wasn't even right to think about. You never thought it would be possible.”
Boyd is the third Cubs player to reach the 10-year mark this season, joining fellow starter Jameson Taillon and third baseman Alex Bregman. Compared to those two, his route to this career checkpoint was slightly less traditional.
The left-hander struggled with consistency throughout his eight-year stint in Detroit. He returned to the Tigers in 2023 after a brief stint with the Mariners in 2022, but his season was cut short by Tommy John surgery.
What could’ve represented a bitter end for the then-32-year-old's time in the big leagues ended up marking where his career turned around. After thriving with the Guardians in late 2024, Boyd signed a two-year deal with Chicago, where he eventually earned the first All-Star nod of his career in ‘25.
One season later, he hit a checkpoint he once thought not possible.
“It's the gold standard to try to get to for a Major League player,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It's not easy. There's over 20,000 big league players, and the number is between 1,000 and 2,000 that have gotten to 10 years. It's a special club, so to speak, that you join. It means that you made it in terms of having a real Major League career.”
Counsell and the rest of Boyd’s teammates celebrated the moment before Saturday’s game, with Boyd noting they all got together over the All-Star break to commemorate the accomplishment, as well.
The day was made even more special thanks to the festivities celebrating the 2016 World Series champion Cubs. Boyd makes a point to talk shop with any of the pitchers from that roster whenever he gets a chance, especially a fellow Washingtonian he once looked up to.
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“Jon Lester is a Washington guy that, when I was in high school, he's the guy that you are looking at and going like, ‘That guy is doing what he does ... and that's who I want to be,’” said Boyd, who was born in Mercer Island, Wash. “Lefty from the same area that you are. Those are great things to aspire to.”
Hitting the 10-year mark was also something Boyd once aspired to, even when his career hit speed bumps that made it feel impossible. Despite what may have felt like insurmountable hurdles, he achieved that goal on Saturday, and his gratitude for those who helped him on the journey could hardly be contained.
“I'm grateful for the people that have believed in me along the way, from the Jays giving me my shot, the Tigers trading for me and giving me all that opportunity, to the Mariners, the Giants, the Guardians. And the Cubbies for believing in me now. And all the coaches and teammates along the way. That's not something you can do on your own.”