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IL1 Buffalo Bisons

#GetInspired: by Giving It One More Shot

May 27, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


The path to the big leagues is different for every player. Some are fortunate enough to get that first call to "The Show" early in their career, while others like Dustin Antolin can wait nine years.

The right-hander was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, but had not advance beyond Double-A before 2016. However, this season Antolin has proven to be a valuable member of the Buffalo Bisons bullpen, which has included time as the team's closer.

The Hawaiian almost did not make it to Buffalo this year, without a contract as spring training approached. Antolin admitted that he thought about retiring from baseball and joining the local construction union at home, but he "talked to my girl and my family and they said 'hey, give it one more shot, who knows what's going to happen, we'll see what happens.' So I came up here, just, you know, worked my tail off and I had the opportunity so it was great...I stuck with it, I'm thankful I did."

Antolin worked one inning of scoreless relief against the Norfolk Tides on May 14th, notching his third save of the season, and after the game found out that giving it one more shot had paid off...he was being called up to the Blue Jays and would meet the team in Texas the following morning.

"It's been my dream since I was a little kid, and I just got tired of the mental grind," Antolin said. "Everybody has their own problems, but I'd just say stick it out 'cause what's going to happen, it's a blessing."

Understandably, Antolin did not sleep much before his flight from Norfolk to Arlington, TX. On just one hour of sleep the righty was in the bullpen at Globe Life Park and "my head was all over the place, you know, nervous, butterflies...it was great, a great experience." He would have a front row seat when the benches cleared on the final day of the series between the Blue Jays and Texas Rangers, but did not appear in the ballgame.

Antolin made his first MLB appearance one day later against the Tampa Bay Rays, working two relief innings for Toronto.

Antolin is now back with the Bisons, and throwing the type of baseball that will get him back in the show before too long. He's earned the save in each of his last five outings with the Herd, posting a 2.45 ERA in 14 overall appearances. He hasn't been scored upon since May 5 and has garnished some high praise from Buffalo pitching coach, Bob Stanley.

"It's just great to see a guy in our organization that was almost on his way out, work hard and get...to the big leagues."

"He's not just a one-inning guy, he's gone three innings, he's started a game, so it's a good thing for him to go up there [to Toronto] and they [the Blue Jays] can use him anyway they want," Stanley said. "He's worked his butt off, I give him a lot of credit."

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