Koenig makes MLB after stops in Australia, indy ball

ATLANTA -- As Jared Koenig ran out to the mound at Truist Park on Wednesday, eight years of work had finally paid off. All he could think was, "This is it."

It was time for the 28-year-old to make his Major League debut for the Athletics, the team that he grew up watching in Northern California.

"The nerves this morning were a little worse than they were being here at the field," Koenig said. "I think sitting here talking with people is a lot more relaxing. And so with that, I think it wasn't too many nerves, but they kind of picked back up right when I got on the mound out there, running out there -- it was a big jump."

Facing the defending World Series champions is no small task, especially in your debut. But Koenig tossed four-plus solid innings, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three in Oakland's 13-2 loss to Atlanta, which has now won seven in a row.

"Knowing that, I think I managed the lineup well enough, I would have obviously liked to gone deeper in the game and managed a little better, but I think it's a learning experience," Koenig said.

Koenig exited the game having given up three runs and trailing just 3-2 with a runner on third, as the first three batters reached in the fifth. Austin Riley homered off Domingo Acevedo to score Michael Harris II from third and account for Koenig's fourth and final run on the night.

"You see the competitiveness, you know he's a grinder and he competes," manager Mark Kotsay said. "That's another thing you can take away from him being on the mound, he didn't shy away from it and made some pitches when he needed to. But, ultimately, that lineup did a great job of seeing pitches and getting to him once they had been through the lineup."

But Koenig's road traveled is more important than the outcome of the game, especially when, upon his departure, the bullpen gave up nine runs in five innings to lead to the disproportionate loss.

Koenig was selected by the White Sox in the 35th round of the 2014 Draft, but he decided not to sign. Instead, the left-hander returned to college to pitch two more seasons at Old Dominion and Cal State-Monterey Bay.

After his college days were over, Koenig played independent ball for four years, with stops in the Pecos League, American Association, United Shore League and Pacific Association in 2017; the Pacific Association in '18; and the Frontier League in '19.

It was after he reached the Auckland Tuatara of the Australian Baseball League in 2019 that the A's caught wind of Koenig's journey and signed him to a Minor League deal on Jan 14, 2020.

"Being drafted and [attending] junior college and then not getting a contract offer, then going to school again, and kind of navigating my way around two more schools and six different teams, it's been a journey," Koenig said. "But I was fortunate to have a family that supported me and allowed me to be myself and enjoy as much as I can playing the game."

Through two Minor League seasons, the 6-foot-5 lefty compiled an 11-7 record over 33 appearances (29 starts) and 174 1/3 innings, garnering a 2.94 ERA. Koenig had compiled a 4-2 record and a 2.21 ERA over nine games (eight starts) in 2022, including a 4-2 record, a 1.64 ERA and a .187 opponents' batting average over his past six starts.

Players around the A's clubhouse appreciate the effort Koenig put in to get to this point, but maybe none more than veteran catcher Stephen Vogt.

"I couldn't be happier for Jared," Vogt said. "He's worked his butt off. He's overcome so much and believed in himself for his entire career. He's earned this. I've seen him. He knows how to pitch, he's really smart, he knows his game and I'm really excited to see him have a dream come true."

Vogt has quickly become one of Koenig's mentors and has helped show him the way in the early stages of his Major League career.

"Just [Vogt] being there, he's guided me through these first couple days, and he's been a mentor the past couple of weeks in general," Koenig said. "I love talking to him and asking him questions and getting to learn from him. Probably one of the best dudes in baseball, so I can't ask for a better person to be around, and he's got my back and I'll always have his."