Rookie goes from Gwinnett hotel to World Series in whirlwind

HOUSTON (AP) — Tucker Davidson was in the lobby of a Courtyard Marriott in Gwinnett, Georgia, eating a salad from The Cheesecake Factory and watching the Atlanta Braves play their World Series opener, talking with Triple-A strength coach Paul Howey and Paul Davis, the roving pitching coordinator.

“We were just kind of sitting there, and Charlie went down, and we kind of looked around, like: This is why we’re here,” Davidson said. “I stayed up, and I kind of had an idea that it might be me. I just had that gut feeling.”

His phone rang shortly before 1 a.m. Ben Sestanovich, the Braves' assistant general manager for player development was on the line.

Less than 24 hours later, the 25-year-old rookie left-hander from Amarillo, Texas, a pitcher with just five games of big league experience, was sitting in the interview room of Minute Maid Park, added to Atlanta’s World Series roster after Charlie Morton’s right fibula was broken in the opening 6-2 win over the Houston Astros.

“I found out, went to the clubhouse about five minutes from the hotel and packed my stuff and just kind of threw everything in the bag,” Davidson said. “Then proceeded to unload my car again, because all my stuff from my apartment is in my car. So I just kind of threw everything on the hotel floor and just kind of started packing things.”

Davidson took an Uber on Wednesday for the roughly one-hour drive to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and traveled to Houston and put on jersey No. 64.

Hit by Yuli Gurriel's liner, Morton went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Wednesday to be examined by Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot and ankle orthopedic specialist.

The Braves put Morton on the injured list and activated Davidson from the 60-day IL.

“He gives us an option for today, if we need him,” Braves...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Rookie-goes-from-Gwinnett-hotel-to-World-Series-16569800.php