NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher Kyle Calzadiaz delivers a pitch in the Mavericks 4-3 10th inning win over the Swift Current 57's on June 2 at Athletic Park.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Kyle Calzadiaz’s tenure as a Medicine Hat Maverick may have started on a rough note but it’s only gone upwards and onwards.
The Walnut, Calif. product travelled with fellow Cal Poly Pomona pitcher and Mavs teammate Dylan Esquival to join the Mavericks for training camp in late-May. The duo were making their way through Montana in an attempt to be present for Fan Fest when they were in a collision in Calzadiaz’s pickup truck.
They were both unharmed in the accident but had obligations in Medicine Hat and had to make their way to Athletic Park while still driving a truck that clearly showed it had been in an accident.
“The truck is in a shop here, so we’re about a week or two from getting it back,” Calzadiaz said. “The insurance worked it all out and everything, it was just a bit of, like, mostly cosmetic damage on the truck.”
While his travel plans involved a rough patch Calzadiaz has enjoyed some success coming out of the Mavericks bullpen early in the season. He’s made four appearances for 13 innings with 13 strikeouts and has picked up two wins.
“I love getting the innings and coming in in big spots where I can impact the game,” Calzadiaz said.
His most recent outing, a five-inning, seven-strikeout outing in Moose Jaw to secure a 7-6 win for Medicine Hat over the Miller Express on June 10 showcased a lot of composure and competitiveness from the freshman.
Calzadiaz was battling the flu all day and throughout the win and didn’t know what he would have that day. After talking with coaches, the right-hander learned he was in the rotation for arms that day and quickly made a decision he was going to do whatever it took to get as many outs as possible.
“I knew I could do it, I just had to go out there and do it. I told myself I could be sick any day, just not right now,” Calzadiaz said. “That was my mindset, I have all day to be sick, but for these next hours or whatever, I just need to lock in and do it.”
Mavs head coach Mark Goodman was extremely complimentary of his young pitcher after the performance and how he stepped up in a moment when he wasn’t at his best.
“Caz’s performance in Moose Jaw was epic, it was like the flu game, he was throwing up in the first innings and before the game, he threw up between innings and then goes out there and throws a gem,” Goodman said. “The flu game for him was absolutely huge against a first-place team.
“It just shows if you give a guy a chance in a different situation, you never know what can happen. Hopefully he goes back next year and becomes a starter or an impact player because of this summer.”
Calzadiaz says both Goodman and assistant coach Kevin Mitchell have made his job easy and he has enjoyed working with the duo.
“Kevin has done a great job, any questions that I have he’s been able to answer them for me, same with Goody,” Calzadiaz said. “He’s helped me the whole way. The coaches have really just been great helping me with whatever we need, and communication has been a big thing.”
He threw four innings in his first season at Cal Poly Pomona. Having already thrown 13 innings heading into Thursday’s action, he says he’s looking to keep bumping that number up throughout the summer while helping the Mavericks cap off their 20th season in a big way.
“All I’m looking to do is get as many innings as I can and just get as much work as I can, I’m just looking to get better,” Calzadiaz said. “That’s really what it’s all about and then eventually, win that championship once the playoffs roll around. That’s the goal, get better and get after it.”
Away from the park, Calzadiaz and Esquival, who are staying with the same billet dad, compete against one another at video games with NBA 2K being the main source of entertainment. Calzadiaz is a Lakers fan for life and always plays as the yellow and purple. He also, humbly, says it’s a close contest at who is the better virtual baller between him and Esquival,
“I was winning today though,” he chirped.
Calzadiaz and the Mavericks (7-8) were in action Thursday night at Athletic Park for a mid-week contest against the Swift Current 57’s. That game was not complete by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story. The Mavs’ next action is Friday when they host the defending WCBL champion Okotoks Dawgs for a 7:05 p.m. contest.
