Aaron Nola: 'Ready To Get Things Started'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Only Tuesday night, the Phillies will do something they haven't done in 26 years.
22-year-old right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola will make his major league debut tonight at Citizens Bank Park against the Tampa Bay Rays, just one year after being selected No. 7 overall by the Phillies in the June 2014 draft. The last Phillies player to make his major debut the season after being drafting was Pat Combs in 1988-1989.
"I'm just ready to get things started around here," Nola told reporters after arriving in the clubhouse Monday. "I'm just going to go out there and be myself. It's still the same game. It's a blessing to be here and it's a blessing to get an opportunity to pitch here."
Nola has combined to go 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 18 starts between double-A Reading (7-3, 1.88 ERA) and triple-A Lehigh Valley (3-1, 3.58). Tonight, it all goes out the window, as he makes his debut against the 47-48 Rays---fittingly, the team the Phils beat to win the 2008 World Series.
"I'm sure there will be a few nerves before I go out on the mound, but once I throw a couple pitches I think I'll be OK," Nola said. "I'm going to play to the best to my ability every time I step on the mound and give it everything I have."
