What a crazy year it’s been for new Phillies pitcher Reggie McClain

A year ago at this time, new Phillies pitcher Reggie McClain was driving for Uber in Arizona as he awaited Mariners spring training.

So much has changed since then for him, and in Clearwater with the Phils, he will have an opportunity to make a big-league team out of camp for the first time.

McClain knew going into 2019 that it would be a make-or-break year. If he didn’t progress through the Seattle Mariners’ system and prove his value, the likelihood was that he’d be out of baseball.

“My back was against the wall,” he recalled this weekend as he made the two-day drive from Phoenix to Atlanta.

A reminder of what this time of year means for many players- with a bit of added relevance around midway through.