Mike Falsetti was driving home on I-90 a mile away from the Steel Yard when he received a text from RailCats manager Greg Tagert.
The catcher from Elmwood Park, Ill., had been released after playing one game with Lake Erie, a Frontier League team located a half-hour west of Cleveland.
Tagert’s message said if Falsetti could meet the team in Sioux City by 3 p.m. the next day — 24 hours later — he had a job.
As Falsetti passed the stadium, he texted back, “Yes, sir.”
He stopped at home, had dinner with his family, hit the road again and arrived after 15 total hours of driving. The next day, he caught the series finale against the Explorers before driving back home overnight.
“It was crazy,” Falsetti said before Thursday’s series opener against Wichita.
The RailCats needed a second catcher after Jaime Del Valle suffered a broken hamate bone in the season’s third game. They were patient in deciding who to acquire to complement Jose Gonzalez, rolling the dice for three days with one catcher.
Falsetti, a Fenwick graduate, came highly recommended. He earned high praise particularly for his defense from Lake Erie manager Chris Mongiardo, a former RailCats pitching coach.
Tagert has gushed about Falsetti, particularly in recent days. With Gonzalez absorbing a foul ball to his collarbone Saturday in Sioux City, Falsetti caught four straight games — including Sunday’s getaway day, Monday’s 15-inning game and Tuesday when Gonzalez was a late scratch.
Falsetti’s .175 batting average in 16 games has been an afterthought.
“What he’s done behind the plate has been an under-the-radar contribution — he’s been tremendous back there,” Tagert said. “What he’s meant to this ballclub, there’s no minimizing his importance filling in for Jaime.”
With the New York Yankees purchasing the contract of right-handed reliever Christian Herstine, the RailCats activated Del Valle on Thursday, even though he was expected to be eased back into the lineup. They were planning to carry three catchers for several days.
Herstine went 1-0 with a 1.03 ERA in five games with the RailCats, signing June 21 after completing a standout college career at Marietta. Herstine, who turns 23 in August, was expected to report to the Yankees’ Tampa affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.
Whereas Gonzalez and Del Valle were slated to split time, Falsetti has served as Gonzalez’s backup. With Gonzalez returning to the starting position Thursday, Falsetti relished his stretch of consistent work.
“I missed that feeling of having my legs feel like that,” Falsetti said. “Jose needed some time off, and I’m ready to go every day. I don’t like those days off.”
More Top Picks Rowing Machine
But the 25-year-old also understands the situation.
After one season each at Bradley and Triton and two at Belmont Abbey, Falsetti made his professional debut last season with the Frontier Greys, the league’s traveling team. Playing in the American Association has been a different level.
“Getting released was a blessing in disguise,” Falsetti said. “Playing closer to home, I’m commuting, people can watch me play.
“In the other league, I was one of the older guys. Now I’m one of the younger guys, playing behind Jose, who’s a hair away from the big leagues. I wish I could get a few more hits, but it’s a great situation.”
With Del Valle active, Falsetti’s situation could be changing. But Tagert praised Falsetti for continuing to go about his business.
“It’s my first real feel of professional baseball,” Falsetti said. “The travel team, it was show and go — you’re on the bus, you get off, you play. This is my first real professional baseball and I love it.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff