MLB

Rice makes big league debut for Mets — 14 seasons later

Scott Rice

Scott Rice (Bill Kostroun/New York Post)

LATE BLOOMER: Mets pitcher Scott Rice, who made his major league debut yesterday after 14 minor league seasons, receives congratulations from catcher John Buck after the 11-2 win over the Padres. (
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At some point, the display case in Dennis Rice’s house grew from just one to two cases. Rice would display a baseball from every stop on his son Scott’s professional baseball career. After 18 teams in 14 minor league seasons, he ran out of room in the case in his Simi Valley, Calif., home.

Now he needs to clear some room. Scott Rice made his major league debut yesterday with the Mets, entering an 11-2 win over the Padres in the ninth inning that may have been meaningless for some, but not the Rice family.

METS OPENING DAY PHOTOS

The 31-year-old has bounced all over the baseball map from Albuquerque to Ottawa. But he never made it to the majors until yesterday when the bullpen gate at Citi Field swung open and the 6-foot-6 lefty jogged in.

“It was one of those things I think if I got called up in the middle of the season I’d be a lot more nervous,” Rice said. “Being with the team all through spring I just felt really comfortable. Obviously, I had a little jitters running out there, but once a batter gets in there it’s baseball, you know. I went out there and tried to stay slow, stay relaxed.”

He did not disappoint in his first outing. Rice struck out the first two batters he faced and did not allow a base runner to put away the Mets’ Opening Day victory.

“I didn’t expect to get two strikeouts,” Rice said. “I’m not usually a strikeout guy. It was kind of what I expected. It was baseball. I was really relaxed. The fans were awesome.”

It was a heartwarming story on a day of good vibes for the Mets.

“It’s one of the great stories for anytime you first get to the major leagues and there’s a guy after 14 years in the minor leagues in his first outing,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “I just hope he absorbed the whole thing. I hope he stood for a second out on the mound in that wind and took a deep breath and said, ‘OK, I’m here. Let’s have some fun with it.’

“Of course, he had a nice inning, too. I’m real proud of him.”

Rice said he would spend time reflecting on the moment today when the Mets have a day off. As he walked off the mound yesterday, he located his father in the stands and spent a few minutes talking to him.

“My dad’s been the reason why I played baseball growing up, played college baseball,” Rice said. “He’s basically taught me the fundamentals and everything I know basically. He’s the guy I call when I have a bad outing. The first call after every outing goes to him. It’s just nice that he was able to be here. It’s just as rewarding for him as it is for me.”

His father left with a new souvenir to display at home.