BY SCOTT LAUBER
(Twitter: @ScottLauber)
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- As he walked to the mound for the first inning here today, Kyle Drabek took a peek down the left-field line and made eye contact with his close friend, reliever Mike Zagurski, in the Phillies' bullpen.
"I gave him a little wave," Drabek said. "He had a big smile on his face."
At age 22, Drabek (AP photo) is nearly ready for the majors, and he always figured he'd make his debut for the Phillies, especially after last summer when they refused to include him in a trade for Roy Halladay. Everything changed in December, of course. Halladay was still available, and this time, the Phillies did what they had to do to get him, namely deal Drabek and two other prospects (outfielder Michael Taylor and catcher Travis d'Arnaud) to the Jays.
So, Drabek said it was more than a little strange to start today against the Phillies at Dunedin Stadium. He tossed two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk and throwing 34 pitches, 21 strikes. He was opposed by Cole Hamels, the pitcher with whom the Phillies once planned to pair Drabek atop their starting rotation.
"It was definitely neat," Drabek said. "When I was with him, I got the chance to talk to him some when I was rehabbing. I mean, Cole's a great guy, so it was definitely fun to pitch against him."
Said Hamels, "I wish the best success for him because he's a tremendous pitcher. Just to kind of be able to relate with him, being out of high school, being a top-round pick. I guess I was just fortunate enough I didn't get traded away when I was in the minors, and I'm here to be with the Phillies. Drabek would've been one of those guys. He's going to be a very good pitcher in the big leagues. Being able to see him out in the big leagues, either this season or the next, will be kind of interesting and fun to know that another guy from the Phillies organization is in the big leagues."
Hamels, by the way, allowed little more than a solo homer by Jose Bautista in the fourth inning. He gave up only that one hit and two walks and struck out three. He threw 48 pitches, including several sharp cutters and curveballs.
More on both Hamels and Drabek in tomorrow's News Journal.
(UPDATED, 5 p.m.): Last summer, Charlie Manuel likened Drabek's delivery to Tom Seaver. He offered the same comparison today. "I look at him and I see a tremendous competitor, but also, I see good stuff," Manuel said. "I see a lot of talent. I see a drop-and-load guy like a Tom Seaver or a [Bartolo] Colon or a guy that’s got thick thighs and hips. He’s young. I saw a lot of potential in his breaking ball, his changeup and his fastball. I’ve seen him improve from a mental state, too, as far as growing up."
I think any time you get a Roy Halladay it’s got to be pretty good.