PITTSBURGH – Randy Roxby fondly recalls the image of his young son Braxton peering into the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen years ago during family outings to PNC Park.
Randy Roxby had his eyes set on the San Francisco Giants bullpen Tuesday night.
PHOTO GALLERY | Windber Area High School graduate Braxton Roxby pitches against Pittsburgh Pirates as a San Francisco Giants reliever
The Giants – and No. 90 Braxton Roxby, a Windber Area High School and Pitt-Johnstown product – visited the Pirates. Seemingly, against the odds, the Major League Baseball schedule paired the Giants and Pirates in Pittsburgh, less than a week after Braxton Roxby reached the big leagues.
The Roxby family estimated that nearly 100 local fans planned to descend upon PNC Park Tuesday, and more are set to attend the next two games in the series Wednesday and Thursday, including the Pitt-Johnstown baseball team and alumni.
"This morning, his wife (Jaclynn) texted my wife (Shelley) about how many years ago we went to PNC Park and Braxton sat and stared at the guys in the bullpen," Randy Roxby said. "Now, he is that guy."
The Giants called up Roxby, 27, a right-handed relief pitcher, Aug. 26. The transaction followed a string of arm injuries throughout the San Francisco pitching staff.
Roxby tossed a clean ninth inning during his MLB debut Friday night in San Francisco's loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park. He ended his appearance with a strikeout followed by an enthusiastic response.
Tuesday's outing was a bit more challenging, as Roxby entered in the third inning, allowing four hits and was charged with giving up two of the four runs scored during his appearance.
The Pirates scored nine times in the bottom of the third, with seven of those runs charged to starter Logan Webb and two to Roxby, who threw 23 of his 31 pitches for strikes.
Still, the former All American Amateur Baseball Association Tournament standout had plenty of support from those who appreciated his long climb to earn a spot on the Giants roster.
Roxby sensed as much a few hours before the first pitch.
"It's going to be another huge moment," said Roxby during a locker room interview before Tuesday's game. "It was awesome to get that monkey off my back in the debut and get that out of the way. To be here and being able to enjoy this, it feels like a second debut."
When told about his family's discussion regarding his experience as a young fan watching the relief pitchers warm up at PNC Park, Braxton Roxby appreciated the juxtaposition.
"It's so weird that at that point at my life, I was looking at all these players, and now at some point along the line, I emerged to become one of them," Roxby said.
"I haven't been star-struck.
"It's just like these are guys I'm going to compete against and I need to beat them if I'm going to keep this job. You can't have any thoughts or emotions effect your process."
Rick Roberts, the founder and a coach of Flood City Elite travel baseball, joined Chance Osborne, manager of the AAABA champion Mainline Pharmacy franchise, on the drive to PNC Park Tuesday.
Roberts coached Roxby throughout his development in travel ball, and Roxby is an instructor at Flood City Elite/ERA.
"I'm excited to watch Braxton in Pittsburgh," said Roberts, a former 10th-round MLB draft pick who reached the Triple-A level in the Los Angeles Dodgers ' minor-league system. "From my own experience, I know how hard it is to even get a chance to play professional baseball, let alone make it all the way up to the bigs.
"I always tell my players when you are willing to outwork everyone and you have high character, then you give yourself a chance to do special things."
Conemaugh Township Area High School graduate Rick Matsko, a crosschecker scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks, happened to be assigned the Pirates-Giants game, but the former AAABA Tournament standout from Davidsville appreciated the chance to perhaps see a local player at the highest level.
"It's just a coincidence that I'm here, but I was so excited when I saw it was the Giants because of Braxton and my having a little bit of a baseball relationship with him," said Matsko, who was accompanied by four young Diamondbacks scouts. "It's exciting. His stuff is electric."
Matsko first encountered Roxby several years ago when he inquired about using the Flood City/ERA facility for a relative's batting practice. Roberts suggested Matsko ask Roxby to throw batting practice to a nephew – then playing at Georgetown University – who was staying in the area during a break in the college season.
"I texted Rick Roberts and asked if we could use his place for BP," Matsko said. "Rick said, 'Text this kid. He lives right there and he's always there (in the indoor facility).' "
That 'kid' was Roxby.
"I started watching this kid when I was in there and started chatting with him," Matsko recalled. "I said, 'Dude, you're doing stuff that I don't see a lot of kids around here doing.'
"He's so self-taught and so self-motivated. He's found so many different places to try to learn and work at things. This kid is different."
Matsko eventually helped Roxby earn a spot in the summer Cape Cod Baseball League.
Roxby had a solid career at Pitt-Johnstown and his win over Altoona Johnston Realty in a 2018 AAABA Tournament semifinal helped the Johnstown franchise win its first crown in the event, now in its 81st year.
Undrafted, Roxby signed with the Cincinnati Reds and spent four seasons in the team's minor-league system. In January 2025, the Reds traded Roxby to the Giants, and he moved through the ranks the past two seasons until his debut in the majors Friday.
"I have not had a second," Roxby said before the game.
""It has been non-stop. If I'm not at the field, it's flights, it's travel, and when it's nothing, it's nerves for what's going on and what the future is. It's been nose-to-the-grindstone the last couple days."
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
