It was a memorable Sept. 11 last year for Newport Harbor High product Connor Seabold, who made his major league debut for the Boston Red Sox.
Seabold, thrilled to finally be in spring training following the 99-day lockout by Major League Baseball team owners, is hoping to crack the pitching rotation for the Red Sox this year, whether as a starter or reliever.
“I’m glad everything’s back, that’s my main takeaway,” Seabold said. “Now that all the fighting is over and the negotiating is done, everybody can go back to enjoying baseball again.”
Seabold, 26, toed the rubber in his first big league game as a starter for the Red Sox against the host Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on the same day America honored the thousands of lives lost on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
Seabold, who was acquired by Boston from the Phillies in a trade on Aug. 21, 2020, was added to the Red Sox’s major league roster on Sept. 11, 2021, and pitched well enough to win. He finished with a no-decision.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Connor Seabold (67) is photographed at Jet Blue Park the site of their baseball spring training site Wednesday March 16, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
“It was wild, just because of the significance of the day and everything,” said Seabold, who allowed two runs and three hits in three innings pitched, then was optioned back to Triple-A Worcester the next day.
“There was a big crowd for the White Sox and that place (Guaranteed Rate Field) was packed. The White Sox were really good last year and they were in the playoff push,” he said. “There were a lot of fans, a lot of energy and I had never experienced anything like that firsthand. It was really a crazy environment.”
The game was played on a bustling Saturday night and Boston’s Travis Shaw hit a tie-breaking single in the 10th inning to propel the Red Sox to a 9-8 win over the White Sox as Seabold faced the first 12 Chicago batters.
“I definitely had adrenaline, but I wouldn’t say I had great stuff. I worked out of a lot of my own mistakes – well, not mistakes, but I just got behind in the count and let a few guys ambush me,” Seabold said from Fort Myers, Florida, where the Red Sox have spring training. “I walked a couple guys and they got a couple of runs. It could have been worse and it could have been better. I got my foot in the door. I was very amped on adrenaline, but I felt my stuff could have been better.”
Seabold retired the first batter he faced, Luis Robert, then walked the next hitter on four pitches.
“All things considered, I was able to get through that and get my first nine big league outs in a big league game, and that’s all (the Red Sox) were asking for that day,” Seabold said.
In 11 starts at Worcester, Seabold compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.50 earned-run average, striking out 52 in 54 innings pitched. After the 2021 season, Seabold was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League, reserved for the top prospects.
Seabold, a former Cal State Fullerton standout, signed with the Phillies after they chose him in the third round of the 2017 draft. Last year he became the 71st Titan to reach the major leagues.
A 2014 Newport Harbor graduate, Seabold became the second Sailor alum to play in the big leagues, following Bill Voss (Harbor Class of ’61).
Voss was a left-handed hitting outfielder who played eight seasons in the majors, including with the Angels. After two years at Orange Coast College, Voss signed with the Tigers in 1963. He’s famous locally for having hit the first grand slam in the history of Angel Stadium against Kansas City on April 18, 1970. The stadium opened in 1966.
Seabold is ready to make his own mark in the majors.
“I’m sure (the Red Sox) expect a lot from me,” Seabold said. “I know they like me and I know they want me to be part of this team one way or another.”
Richard Dunn, a longtime sportswriter, writes the Dunn Deal column regularly for The Orange County Register’s weekly, The Coastal Current North.