Former University of Maine closer and Brewer native Matt Pushard, who pitched for the Miami Marlins’ AAA franchise in Jacksonville this past season, is looking forward to a new opportunity after being obtained by the St. Louis Cardinals through the Rule 5 draft last month.
The annual Rule 5 draft enables a team to obtain an unprotected minor league player for $100,000 as long as that player isn’t on his current team’s 40-man Major League roster and has been in the system for either four or five years depending on their age.
However, that player must remain on his new team’s 26-man Major League roster for the entire season or he will be put on waivers. If he clears waivers, he has to be offered to his original team for $50,000.
Pushard said he felt he had a “really good chance” to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft based on the interest he had received from several teams.
“I was very excited to hear my name called in the draft. I’m excited about the opportunity,” said the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Pushard, who led America East in saves with nine in his final season at UMaine in 2022.
The 28-year-old Pushard had a solid season for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in his first full AAA season. He was 4-5 with a 3.61 earned-run average. He had four saves in four opportunities to go with five holds and he struck out 73 in 62 ⅓ innings while allowing just 49 hits and three homers in 49 appearances.
Opponents hit just .214 against him and he allowed one earned run or none in 43 of his 49 appearances including 36 scoreless outings.
He has no hard feelings towards the Marlins organization.
“The Marlins obviously saw something in me and gave me an opportunity to play professional baseball,” said Pushard, who signed with the Marlins as a free agent. “Without them, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”
He feels he will have a better chance to pitch at the Major League level with the Cardinals and his communication with them has been very positive.
“They told me they like everything I do and told me to continue it. It was really nice to hear that from them on day one,” Pushard said. “You have to believe in yourself but it’s nice to hear that they believe in you as well.”
He said he is confident he can earn a spot on the 26-man Major League roster in spring training, noting that he led the Marlins in saves in spring training with two a year ago. He allowed three hits and an earned run and struck out four in 3 ⅓ innings.
“I was facing some good talent and I saw that throughout the year as well. I faced some top prospects and even some big leaguers who were on (injury) rehab assignments,” pointed out Pushard.
He features a 95-96 miles-per-hour four-seam fastball “that has always been my best pitch.”
He mixes in a slider and change-up and he also has a curve that he throws primarily to lefties and a sweeper that he usually throws to righties. He began throwing the sweeper last season.
He was “very happy” with his first AAA season, although he noted that he would have been even happier if it wasn’t for three or four appearances when he gave up multiple runs. He gave up eight earned runs in back-to-back appearances against Charlotte in early July.
“But it was definitely a success,” Pushard said.
He has been throwing in preparation for spring training and has been able to spend time with wife Sophia, family and friends before he heads to St. Louis’ spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida. Ironically, the Cardinals share the complex with the Marlins.
“I’ve got to continue what I’ve been doing. There’s a reason why I’ve gotten to where I am and that’s because I’ve been doing the little things you need to do,” Pushard said. “You have to be consistent and you’ve got to want it more.”
Pushard said that not many players get the opportunities that he has, and he knows he has to take advantage of them.
“It’s something I’ve been working towards my entire life. I’ve got to make sure I’m ready for that opportunity. I can’t take anything for granted,” he added. “You have to be confident within yourself, believe you deserve to be there and go out and compete.”
He said he doesn’t care what his role will be, he just wants to help his team win.
“The Cardinal organization does things right and I’m excited about that,” Pushard said.
His former UMaine teammate, pitcher Cody Laweryson from Moscow, Maine, is also on the move as he was waived by the Minnesota Twins and picked up by the Los Angeles Angels.
This will be Pushard’s fifth pro season and Laweryson’s seventh.
The 27-year-old Laweryson made his major league debut for the Twins this past season and allowed just one earned run and four hits in five relief appearances spanning 7 ⅔ innings with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Prior to being called up by the Twins, Laweryson had spent the season between AA Wichita and AAA St. Paul where he appeared in 34 relief appearances and posted a 2-4 record with a 2.86 ERA. He struck out 45 in 44 innings and walked 14. He earned six saves in seven opportunities.