Cincinnati Reds rookie pitcher curses in postgame interview after making MLB debut

The Cincinnati Reds, if not very good, are unquestionably the most exciting team in the majors right now. They just called up the Paul Bunyan of MLB prospects in Elly De La Cruz along with a slew of other exciting rookies and youngsters. The latest of which being relief pitcher Ricky Karcher, who made a surprise debut in at the major league level on Monday night in the 10th inning against the Kansas City Royals despite posting a 9.27 ERA in triple-A play this year.

After giving up a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 4-4, the Reds knocked in their free runner at second base in to take the lead in the top of the 10th. Then came Karcher, who got the nod to close this one out in his first major league game. While he eventually got the job done, it was a sheer miracle he didn’t give up a run.

Karcher tossed nine fastballs and none of them landed in the strike zone, with one nearly breaking a Royals batter’s nose on a bunt attempt. On several other occasions, with Kansas City’s tying run on third and winning run on second, he winged pitches way over the head of catcher Curt Casali, who made some remarkable grabs to keep KC from tying it up.

Alas, he somehow got out of the pickle and sealed the deal to record the first save in Cincinnati Reds history by a player making his MLB debut. Afterward, he was literally speechless and barely able to get any words off during his postgame interview.

“It’s like a movie, bro,” Karcher huffed. “I feel like…it doesn’t even feel real, man. It’s incredible. Holy s**t.”

Interview. Of. The. Year. pic.twitter.com/P381LAv5dB

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 13, 2023

Longtime Reds broadcaster Jim Day knew he struck gold with that one-liner, immediately turning to the camera with a grin wider than the gateway arch to give a big thumbs-up before assuring Karcher that his blunder was just fine. “Alright, live TV, we’re good. We’re on cable,” Day laughed, then tried to get things back on track by asking how Karcher was able to get over the finish line in the 10th.

“I don’t know, man. I mean, confidence in my slider I guess,” Karcher responded right as a pair of teammates doused him in gatorade. Well, we know it wasn’t his fastball that got it done! Jokes aside, though, a very cool night for Ricky Karcher that he could have hardly dreamed of.