BOISE, Idaho — The last few days have been an absolute whirlwind for Boise native and Timberline High School alum Michael Stefanic.
On Saturday, he finally received his long awaited call to The Show, when the Los Angeles Angels officially added Stefanic to their 40-man roster. Four years after the local standout wasn't selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, Stefanic became a big leaguer.
Stefanic made his MLB debut the following day, batting sixth and playing second base for the Angels. When Stefanic took the field Sunday in Houston, he became the first Idaho-born position player that also graduated from an Idaho high school, to play in the MLB since Harmon Killebrew.
The Boise native learned about his promotion while in Tacoma, Wash. Saturday night. Stefanic said he was watching Seinfeld in the clubhouse when the manager of the Rocket City Trash Pandas pulled him aside.
"I get into the office in Tacoma and the coaches are all super serious and our hitting coach looks at me and says, 'so what happened when you were in Arizona on rehab?' Kind of tried to make it seem like I was in trouble for something," Stefanic said. "I didn't buy it because I didn't do anything wrong in Arizona, I was a pro.
"They all started cracking up and told me I was going to the big leagues and I just kind of stood there, too stunned to speak for a second and just started smiling. I was like 'let's go.' So, that was a pretty cool moment that I'll never forget."
Stefanic was scheduled to land in Houston Sunday at 5 a.m., but his flight was delayed two hours. A few hours later, he was on the field for his MLB debut against the Astros.
Stefanic went 0-for-3 in his first outing, but bounced back in a hurry Tuesday. Pinch hitting in the top of the 9th inning in Miami, Stefanic singled down the right field line on a 2-0 pitch.
Before heading to the ballpark Wednesday morning, the Timberline grad recapped the most meaningful hit of his baseball career.
"It means the world. I mean, just everything - from when you're a little kid - that's where you want to be, that's the goal and now being here, it's only motivation and fuel to want to keep it here," Stefanic said. "I don't want to be one of those guys that just continues to go up and down all the time.
"The things you can control are your attitude and your effort. That's the type of player I am, is just to come to the park everyday and grind out at-bats and play hard and try to get a win for the ballclub."
Despite the Angels' 9th-inning comeback attempt falling short against the Marlins, Stefanic was the only Los Angeles player to score in the 2-1 loss. Stefanic touched home plate on a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Taylor Ward.
In the second game in Miami Wednesday - coming off a chaotic few days and little sleep - Stefanic went 2-for-3 in his second career MLB start.
Batting sixth and playing second base again, the Boise native drilled a line-drive single in the 3rd inning and laced a spinner back up the middle for a single in the 6th inning.
KTVB's Jay Tust's full interview with Stefanic:
Looking back on Stefanic's journey from the Treasure Valley to Los Angeles is an incredible ride. Growing up in Boise, the quiet kid made his local 12-year-old all-star team at the age of 11.
At Timberline High School, Stefanic was coached by the legendary Larry Price. As a junior in 2013, he was named second team All-SIC and helped the Wolves capture a 5A State Championship.
He was underrated and lightly recruited coming out of Boise. Stefanic ended up committing to Westmont, an NAIA school in California.
Stefanic ended up becoming arguably the best player in program history, leading the Warriors in hitting as a sophomore (.352), junior (.371) and senior (.392).
Following a stellar four-year run with the Warriors, Stefanic would leave school with a number of records. Here are the ones he still holds today:
- AB: 757
- R: 157
- H: 275
- 2B: 50
- TB: 357
- HBP: 37
Stefanic also registered a hit at every level in the minors. He had a .336 batting average in AAA and AA in 2021 and a .314 average in AAA this year.
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