As the old saying goes the first one is always the hardest.
Collin McHugh learned that the hard way going 607 days before getting his first major league win. Between coming out of the bullpen and starting, McHugh lost his first eight decisions across his first two seasons. It took him until his third big league team to get that coveted first win. In his major league debut for the Mets he pitched a gem going seven scoreless innings only giving up two hits and striking out nine against the Rockies (the Mets lost that game 1-0). After that is was pretty much all down hill in his rookie campaign. In eight 2012 Collin McHugh appearances (4 starts 4 in relief) the Mets posted an 0-8 record.
Collin McHugh had a humble beginning to his career but it started before he even played professional baseball. McHugh was born in the wealthiest city in the Midwest, 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Illinois. He went to Providence Christian Academy (Lilburn, GA) for high school, total number of Major leaguers from there not named McHugh, none. Not recruited by D1 schools McHugh attended D-III Berry College, (Mount Berry, GA) number of major leaguers to attend not named McHugh, none. McHugh heard 553 names called before the Mets made him their 18th round selection in the 2008 MLB draft. Being told he wasn’t good enough was the theme of McHugh’s pre-professional career.
Collin’s first four years in the minors got him through most of the Mets lower system, stopping through Kingsport, Brookyln, Savnnah, St. Lucie and finishing his 2011 season in AA Binghamton. In 2012 McHugh started at AA, then got his first career call up to AAA by June. As mentioned earlier he made his major league debut on August 23, 2012 pitching a gem against the Rockies. In 2013 he was up in down from Las Vegas (Mets AAA affiliate) and the Mets until he was traded for Eric Young Jr. on June 18, 2013.
Including his appearances with the mets in that season McHugh ended his Mets Career with 11 appearances (5 starts 6 in relief). He went 0-5 with an 8.25 ERA the Mets were also 0-11 in games that he pitched in. His career was the Rockies was a disaster. He was assigned to AA Tulsa to start. He made two solid starts there and then was called to Colorado Springs (AAA Rockies) where he pitched three starts until he made his Colorado Rockies debut on July 27, 2013. It didn’t go as well as the Mets one did. He was demoted after he took the loss (now 0-6 lifetime record with his teams 0-12 in his appearances). After spending the entire month of August in AAA McHugh was called back up for September even though he didn’t have such a productive August. He made three starts in September going 0-2 with 9.64 ERA (the Rockies did win the other start so he finally snapped his team losing every game he pitched in streak). After pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League in October, McHugh was DFAed by the Rockies on December 16, 2013.
On December 17, 2013 Collin McHugh was a 26 year old kid without a team and had a career record of 0-8 to go with a career ERA of 8.94. His major league career was in jeopardy and he had to have thought that it could be over. The next day came and the Houston Astros claimed McHugh off waivers as rotation insurance. He didn’t make the opening day roster and was assigned to AAA. After 3 starts there, Scott Feldman the Astros opening day starter was sent to the disabled list and McHugh was called up. The date was April 22, 2014, the opponent, the Seattle Mariners, Collin McHugh finally got his first career win. It wasn’t an ordinary win though, McHugh’s Astros debut was historic.
In that start Collin McHugh pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings striking out 12! In 26 innings in 2013 between his time with the Mets and Rockies McHugh struck 11, total. Only J.R Richard in 1971 struck out more in an Astros debut (15). After starting the season 4-3 McHugh lost his next 6 decisions. At 4-9 with a 3.45 Era (which is still very good) many wondered if McHugh was back down to earth for good. That is when he really turned it on, his last ten starts he went 7-0 while lowering his ERA to 2.73. It was an incredible way to end a remarkable turnaround season.
One thing Collin McHugh was always successful at was writing a blog. It is called A Day Older a Day Wiser (http://www.adayolderadaywiser.com/). Blogging throughout his ups and downs it is really what makes him such a likable guy. In 2015 so far, Collin McHugh is 4-0 and in his six starts the Astros have a 6-0 record, a far cry from how his career started. He has won his last 11 decisions. 2015 was the first opening day roster he ever made and hopefully there will be many more in the future. (When I was in Houston last summer at an Astros game I was there for BP and I saw Collin walking to the dugout I yelled for him to come over and he did just that, signed the baseball card I had of him on the Mets, as well as taking a picture with me. As a Mets fan I always rooted for Collin and even though he didn’t perform for us it is great to see him so successful.)
